Kidnap-Jury Bible ‘Ban’

November 8, 2004 — Lawyers for the Utah pedophile “prophet” accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing Elizabeth Smart in 2002 want jurors sequestered during his trial — and Bibles banned from their hotel rooms.

But Salt Lake County prosecutors are expected to ask a judge to bat down the bizarre request, and others, this week, sources told The Post.

“The general reaction to the [defense] motion is a collective ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ ” a Utah law-enforcement source said.

Noting that the February trial — which the defense said will be the “most covered [case] in Utah history” — will likely spark a media circus, lawyers for accused kidnapper Brian David Mitchell, 51, also wants to ban jurors from restaurants and churches.

Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet, has claimed that the then-14-year-old Elizabeth was his “wife” during her nine-month ordeal.

Salt Lake District Attorney David Yocom has until Thursday to file a response to the flurry of motions, which the defense made last month to Judge Judith Atherton to “prevent prejudicial exposure.”

The scripture-spouting Mitchell — who penned a rambling manifesto before abducting Elizabeth, claiming it was God’s will for him to have multiple wives — was indicted by a secret grand jury on Sept. 3, 2003.

The indictment was kept quiet for more than a year.

Elizabeth was kidnapped from her parents’ suburban Salt Lake City home in June 2002. She was found with Mitchell and his common-law wife, Wanda Barzee, 58, the following March. The duo face kidnapping, abuse and conspiracy charges, and could be imprisoned for life.

• Read the New York Post online

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