Elizabeth Smart trial

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Elizabeth Smart to Abductor: 'I Have a Wonderful Life'

She confronts kidnapper before he is sentenced to life

(Newser) - Brian David Mitchell got a life sentence today for kidnapping Elizabeth Smart , but she got the last word in court. Confronting him for the first time, she kept it short and sweet:
  • "I don't have very much to say to you. I know exactly what you did. I
... More »

Elizabeth Smart Not All That Damaged: Defense

Kidnapper's attorney argues to prevent Brian David Mitchell from getting life sentence

(Newser) - Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper shouldn’t get a life sentence, his attorney argued yesterday, because Smart isn’t all that psychologically damaged. “In a legal sense, the story is not the extreme psychological injury. The story is her overcoming the extreme conduct of my client,” said Robert Steele... More »

Elizabeth Smart: 'It Is Possible to Move On'

Says she's 'thrilled' with her kidnapper's guilty verdict

(Newser) - A smiling Elizabeth Smart pronounced herself "thrilled" with today's guilty verdict of kidnapper Brian David Mitchell. But she's happy for another reason as well: "I am so thrilled to stand before the people of America today and give hope to other victims who have not spoken out about... More »

Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Found Guilty

Federal jury finds Brian David Mitchell guilty on both counts

(Newser) - A federal jury has convicted a former street preacher of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart more than eight years ago. The verdict reached today finally brought justice for Smart and her family after the ordeal that began when Brian David Mitchell took her from her home at knifepoint and held her captive... More »

Elizabeth Smart Storms Out of Trial

Loses cool after shrink testifies Mitchell intended to impregnate her

(Newser) - Losing her cool for the first time, Elizabeth Smart stormed out of her alleged kidnapper's trial yesterday, glaring at a state psychologist as he testified that Brian David Mitchell intended to impregnate her and that the two had talked about baby names. Paul Whitehead, who evaluated Mitchell for three years,... More »

Mitchell: Elizabeth Smart Had a 'Glorious Experience'

Witness testifies he was controlling, not delusional

(Newser) - Trial resumed in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case today, with jurors hearing testimony that Brian David Mitchell was not delusional, but rather deliberately controlling and intimidating, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Mitchell "has a personality that is much larger than I’ve ever encountered," testified a former cop... More »

Elizabeth Smart: Abductor Was 'Self-Serving,' 'Vulgar'

Says he used religion to justify his actions

(Newser) - Elizabeth Smart wrapped up her testimony in the trial of Brian David Mitchell today, making clear that she doesn't think the man accused of subjecting her to daily rapes for 9 months is a man of God as he claims. In her words: "He was crude and vulgar, self-serving.... More »

Elizabeth Smart Stayed With Captor to Protect Family

He promised to kill them if she fled

(Newser) - Elizabeth Smart continued her poised testimony today, explaining that she didn't try to escape captor Brian David Mitchell because he promised to kill her family if she did. The Salt Lake Tribune highlights this wrenching detail: Mitchell forced her to burn the red pajamas she had on when he abducted... More »

Elizabeth Smart Takes the Stand Against Alleged Kidnapper

She recalls 'begging' him not to rape her

(Newser) - Elizabeth Smart took the stand today against the man accused of kidnapping and raping her, recounting in a calm voice how Brian David Mitchell allegedly woke her up on the morning of June 5, 2002, with a knife to her throat. He said, “Come with me or I will... More »

Judge Boots Elizabeth Smart Defendant From Court

Brian David Mitchell couldn't contain his urge to sing hymns

(Newser) - Brian David Mitchell may have been found mentally competent to stand trial, but that doesn't mean he's capable of controlling his urge to sing hymns in court, reports the AP. The serenading of Elizabeth Smart 's alleged kidnapper lasted about a half-hour during jury selection before the judge kicked him... More »

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