http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:40:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24127/brian-david-mitchell-competent-to-stand-trial http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24127/brian-david-mitchell-competent-to-stand-trial#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:06:42 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24127 Brian David Mitchell is competent to stand trial in the abduction of Elizabeth Smart despite his personality disorders, a judge ruled Monday.

In a 149-page decision, U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball said Mitchell can understand the charges against him and help his lawyers in his defense, the standard for mental competency.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24127/brian-david-mitchell-competent-to-stand-trial/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24094/wanda-barzee-pleads-guilty-to-charge-in-elizabeth-smart-case http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24094/wanda-barzee-pleads-guilty-to-charge-in-elizabeth-smart-case#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:34:41 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24094 Prosecutors on Monday dropped state charges against a woman in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart in exchange for a guilty plea related to the attempted kidnapping of Smart's cousin.

Doctors at the Utah State Hospital said last fall that Barzee had responded to the treatment and was competent.

Atherton accepted that determination Monday but said Barzee remains mentally ill.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24094/wanda-barzee-pleads-guilty-to-charge-in-elizabeth-smart-case/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24074/prosecutors-say-alleged-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-competent-to-stand-trial http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24074/prosecutors-say-alleged-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-competent-to-stand-trial#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:17:47 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24074 Street preacher Brian David Mitchell is purposely adopting a fake religious persona, does not suffer a mental illness and is competent to stand trial, according to federal prosecutors.

In December, a 10-day competency hearing was held for the man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting Elizabeth Smart in 2002. It was Mitchell's third competency hearing overall, and his first in federal court.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24074/prosecutors-say-alleged-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-competent-to-stand-trial/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23941/brian-david-mitchell-faked-psychiatric-problems-nurse-claims http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23941/brian-david-mitchell-faked-psychiatric-problems-nurse-claims#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:39:39 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23941 Leslie Miles, a former employee of Utah State Hospital, took the witness stand during the second day of the competency hearing for Brian David Mitchell, 56, who faces federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines.

Mitchell was able to take care of himself and ask for things while in the hospital's forensic unit but refused to participate in any treatments or therapies, Miles said.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23941/brian-david-mitchell-faked-psychiatric-problems-nurse-claims/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23792/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23792/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart-2#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:20:49 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23792 A state court judge said Friday the Utah State Hospital has determined that the woman charged in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart is competent for trial.

The hospital's finding — provided in a report three days ago to Judge Judith Atherton — was announced in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court. It could mean the case of Wanda Eileen Barzee is headed toward trial, although Atherton first must rule Barzee competent.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23792/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart-2/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23733/kidnap-victim-elizabeth-smart-recounts-rape-ordeal http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23733/kidnap-victim-elizabeth-smart-recounts-rape-ordeal#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:13:33 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23733 The American student Elizabeth Smart has, for the first time, described her nine-month kidnap ordeal after being snatched by a stranger from her bedroom in Salt Lake City seven years ago.

Asked by a prosecutor to describe Brian David Mitchell, the self-described prophet accused of holding her captive for nine months, Ms Smart replied: “Evil, wicked, manipulative, stinky, slimy, greedy, selfish, not spiritual, not religious, not close to God.”]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23733/kidnap-victim-elizabeth-smart-recounts-rape-ordeal/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23718/elizabeth-smart-to-face-accused-kidnapper http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23718/elizabeth-smart-to-face-accused-kidnapper#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:52:03 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23718 A federal judge has ruled that Elizabeth Smart can testify in the upcoming mental competency hearing for her accused kidnapper.

In a ruling issued Monday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball denied a defense motion to bar Smart from testifying in the case of Brian David Mitchell.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23718/elizabeth-smart-to-face-accused-kidnapper/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23704/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23704/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:55:41 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=23704 In letters written to her mother, the woman charged in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart has sought forgiveness for any pain she has caused and says she expects to spend the rest of her life in prison.

Meanwhile her estranged husband will soon face another competency hearing.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/23704/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20874/wanda-barzee-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20874/wanda-barzee-2#comments Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:44:11 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20874/wanda-barzee-2 [video]]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20874/wanda-barzee-2/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20150/wanda-barzee http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20150/wanda-barzee#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:20:08 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20150/wanda-barzee http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20150/wanda-barzee/feed 0