Elizabeth Smart Testifies In Disturbing Detail About Her Ordeal

On June 5, 2002 12-year-old Elizabeth Smart awoke to a knife to her throat.  Nine months after being abducted by Brian Mitchell, Elizabeth was rescued.  At the time of her homecoming her parents stated that they wouldn't pressure Elizabeth for details about her ordeal. 

Now, seven years later, Elizabeth spoke openly and in great detail in a Utah courtroom.

The reason?  Her abductor and rapist, Brian Mitchell, has still not been tried for his crimes.  Why, you ask?  (Or maybe yell.  Like me.)  Well, that would be because the Utah state court has inexplicably found Brian Mitchell incompetent to stand trial.  TWICE.

No little girl should ever have to endure the things Elizabeth did and to have to relive those details, in front of her parents no less, seems like yet another violation.  Yet, Elizabeth's testimony that Brian Mitchell kidnapped her for SEX, not because of RELIGION, is somehow critical to the case. 

I'm no attorney, but I believe the correct legal term is "bullshiteas corpus".

I can't imagine what a tough decision it must have been for Elizabeth to share what she did...

Elizabeth testified that Brian Mitchell drugged her and raped her daily, up to four times a day, beginning the night he abducted her.

"He placed his hand on my chest and then put the knife up to my neck. He told me to get up quietly and if I didn't then he would kill me and my family."

Brian Mitchell took Elizabeth to a camp in the woods where his wife, Wanda Barzee forced her to bathe.

"She eventually just proceeded to wash my feet and told me to change out of my pajamas into a robe type of garment. And when I refused, she said if I didn't, she would have Brian Mitchell come rip my pajamas off. I put the robe on ... he came and performed a ceremony, which was to marry me to him. After that, he proceeded to rape me."

Elizabeth told the court that Brian Mitchell called her "Augustine" and kept her tied to a tree by a cable without food for days.

The crux of the testimony, apparently, lay in the fact that Elizabeth says Brian Mitchell's focus was on sex during the nine months he held her captive.  Huh, you don't say.

Elizabeth leaves on a Mormon mission to France next month.

I sort of want to see her off at the airport, don't you?

Brian Mitchell's third competency hearing takes place on Nov. 30.  Does he really need to be found competent to stand trial?  Can't he just be found competent to stand still?  While someone shoots?

Comments

[Tracy H]

Totally agree, he deserves to be shot. I just want to give her a hug. But she certainly doesn't seem like she needs it. Seems like she has somehow made it through this ordeal and she is okay. Good for her!

[Trilby]

I believe there's a special place in Hell for child rapists. And I'd love to be the person that sent him there on the express train.

[KBO]

First of all, crazy or not, that guy should rot in prison for the rest of his life. He raped her multiple times per day for months on end? He knew what he was doing.

Second, I think it's a testament to the strength of both Elizabeth and her entire family that she was able to testify calmly, firmly, and with conviction. How brave and badass is she? I think her story is an inspiration to victims everywhere. She seems like a strong young woman.

[Jane]

Every time I've seen her on the news (and it's not often), she always seems so . . . undamaged, and recovered. Her parents must be so relieved/grateful/happy. I would say I have no idea where she got/gets the strength to be so resilient, but I'm a Mormon too.

[Erin]

That is one brave young woman.

[DianaCLT]

I read through her entire testimony last week. Definitely a hard read. She has always seemed like she has her head on straight, since being rescued. It's clear that she has a great and loving family around her, and is very strong in her faith. I hope that she will always be this strong and centered. I do worry that perhaps she hasn't allowed herself to go through the grieving process. She might be able to discuss what's happened in a level-headed way because she's looking at it more as an outsider. I sincerely hope she is healed, however, and that she is able to go on in her life and in her future relationships in a healthy way.

[Marilyn (A Lot of Loves)]

I'm sure others don't agree with me but I never really get the point of competency trials. I don't care if you're insane or not. If you're guilty you're guilty and away with you.

[Accidental Housewife]

What ever happened to his wife? Was she tried? I mean she obviously had a role in this whole thing.

[indycitygirl]

It is wonderful to see a happy,together girl after the hell she must of went through.She is fierce! I wish her rapists a lifetime of pain and suffering