SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Smart, testifying Thursday at a hearing in Salt Lake City for the man accused of abducting her in 2002, said he "used religion to get what he wanted."
Smart, 21, described for U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball how Brian David Mitchell took her at knifepoint from her home when she was 14, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Smart said Mitchell forced her to hike to his home, where his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, forced her to change from her pajamas into a robe and Mitchell performed a marriage ritual, the newspaper said.
"After that, he proceeded to rape me," Smart testified during the hearing to determine Mitchell's competency to stand trial.
Mitchell has been diagnosed with a delusional disorder.
Smart said Mitchell raped her three to four times a day for the nine months she was held captive and claimed he was a prophet of God.
"He used religion to get what he wanted," she testified. "He had an excuse for everything he did with a religious side to it."
U.S. District Attorney Brett Tolman said Smart's testimony established that Mitchell was primarily interested in getting away with criminal acts, the newspaper said. Defense attorney Robert Steele said some of Smart's testimony supported the suggestion that Mitchell is delusional.
Smart said Mitchell made her use alcohol and drugs and exposed her to pornography.
"Anything I showed resistance or hesitation to, he would turn to me and say, 'The Lord has commanded you to do this, you have to experience the lowest form of humanity to experience the highest,'" she testified.
The next hearing on Mitchell's competency is scheduled for Nov. 30.
Smart, 21, described for U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball how Brian David Mitchell took her at knifepoint from her home when she was 14, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Smart said Mitchell forced her to hike to his home, where his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, forced her to change from her pajamas into a robe and Mitchell performed a marriage ritual, the newspaper said.
"After that, he proceeded to rape me," Smart testified during the hearing to determine Mitchell's competency to stand trial.
Mitchell has been diagnosed with a delusional disorder.
Smart said Mitchell raped her three to four times a day for the nine months she was held captive and claimed he was a prophet of God.
"He used religion to get what he wanted," she testified. "He had an excuse for everything he did with a religious side to it."
U.S. District Attorney Brett Tolman said Smart's testimony established that Mitchell was primarily interested in getting away with criminal acts, the newspaper said. Defense attorney Robert Steele said some of Smart's testimony supported the suggestion that Mitchell is delusional.
Smart said Mitchell made her use alcohol and drugs and exposed her to pornography.
"Anything I showed resistance or hesitation to, he would turn to me and say, 'The Lord has commanded you to do this, you have to experience the lowest form of humanity to experience the highest,'" she testified.
The next hearing on Mitchell's competency is scheduled for Nov. 30.
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