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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Elizabeth Smart to Testify on Sanity of Her Kidnapper

Will detail his behavior during 9-month captivity

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(Newser) – Elizabeth Smart is ready to testify against the homeless street preacher who abducted her at knifepoint seven years ago. At a hearing Thursday to determine if Brian David Mitchell is fit to stand trial, Smart will tell the court how he acted over her nine-month captivity. The prosecutor thinks she’ll provide important observations about his preoccupation with sex, religious beliefs, manipulative tactics, and how he rationalized his behavior.

In a Wednesday, April 30, 2003 file photo, Ed Smart walks with his daughter Elizabeth Smart to the Rose Garden of the White House.
In a Wednesday, April 30, 2003 file photo, Ed Smart walks with his daughter Elizabeth Smart to the Rose Garden of the White House.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
In this Feb. 17, 2005 file photo, Brian David Mitchell enters court for his competency hearing in Salt Lake City.
In this Feb. 17, 2005 file photo, Brian David Mitchell enters court for his competency hearing in Salt Lake City.   (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)
Honoree Elizabeth Smart arrives at the Second Annual 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute' at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood and Highland on November 22, 2008 in Hollywood, California.
Honoree Elizabeth Smart arrives at the Second Annual 'CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute' at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood and Highland on November 22, 2008 in Hollywood, California.   (Getty Images)
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13 comments
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Reader64481089
Sep 29, 09 8:11 AM CDT
I seriously with the Death Penalty was made ready for this type animal..............he deserves that and much more that prison never provides and now they attempt to claim he is insane so he can avoid prison and be put in a mental institution in its stead Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Collusive
Sep 29, 09 8:29 AM CDT
you are clearly the reason why they invented seventh grade english class. anyways, the man is insane, let him rot. how much punishment is being placed in a chair and being pumped full of pain killers until you lose consciousness? the average l.i.p. sentence costs 90,000 while the average execution costs $2 million. killing this man isn't going to prevent the next child abduction.
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IN RESPONSE:
Alan_Harrington
Sep 29, 09 8:34 AM CDT
haha yeah, newser apparently needs a grammar check function. I have to agree reader, this guy does not deserve free meals and a roof over his head. taking him off this earth most certainly would prevent 1 more child abduction.
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Jayster999
Sep 29, 09 8:22 AM CDT
There's plenty of people who deserve the death penalty, this scum is one of thousands. Too bad we don't have the means to follow through. The way it is now, it takes years and thousands of dollars (millions in some cases) to get one scumbag put down. Thank the liberals for this stupidity. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Gooner82
Sep 29, 09 8:47 AM CDT
Conservatives are the pro-lifers. Blame them since "every life is so precious."
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