http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:05:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25989/brian-david-mitchell-sentencing-today-for-kidnap-rape-of-elizabeth-smart http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25989/brian-david-mitchell-sentencing-today-for-kidnap-rape-of-elizabeth-smart#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 14:55:41 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=25989 The homeless street preacher convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart faces a possible life prison term when he is sentenced on Wednesday, during a hearing in which Smart was expected to address him directly.

Mitchell, 57, was found guilty by a federal court jury in December of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25989/brian-david-mitchell-sentencing-today-for-kidnap-rape-of-elizabeth-smart/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25498/jury-convicts-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-rejects-insanity http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25498/jury-convicts-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-rejects-insanity#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:23:00 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=25498 A jury found a rambling street preacher guilty Friday of the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart in a case that has tugged at hearts around the nation ever since the Utah teenager was snatched from her bedroom and resurfaced nine months later.

Brian David Mitchell could face up to a life in prison when he is sentenced.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25498/jury-convicts-elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-rejects-insanity/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25490/brian-david-mitchell-a-religious-chameleon-psychiatrist-testifies-for-prosecution http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25490/brian-david-mitchell-a-religious-chameleon-psychiatrist-testifies-for-prosecution#comments Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:07:16 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=25490 More than eight years after Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped at knifepoint from her Salt Lake City home, the case may finally be coming to an end as prosecutors called the last of their rebuttal witnesses, a New York City-based forensic psychologist, who testified about an evaluation he did of the defendant, Brian David Mitchell. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25490/brian-david-mitchell-a-religious-chameleon-psychiatrist-testifies-for-prosecution/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25474/religious-expert-analyzes-text-in-elizabeth-smart-case http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25474/religious-expert-analyzes-text-in-elizabeth-smart-case#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:14:23 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=25474 The testimony of Brigham Young University professor Daniel C. Peterson seemed to support the prosecution's contention that the defendant is a smart, cunning person — an argument that runs counter to defense attorneys' claims that he is mentally ill and can't be held responsible in the case]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25474/religious-expert-analyzes-text-in-elizabeth-smart-case/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24616/brian-david-mitchell-attorney-will-seek-insanity-defense-in-elizabeth-smart-kidnapping-trial http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24616/brian-david-mitchell-attorney-will-seek-insanity-defense-in-elizabeth-smart-kidnapping-trial#comments Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:22:02 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=24616 Attorneys for Brian David Mitchell, who is accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, say they will seek an insanity defense during their client's upcoming trial in federal court scheduled to begin Nov. 1.

Mitchell is accused of kidnapping and raping Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 at the time, in 2002 and holding her captive for nine months.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24616/brian-david-mitchell-attorney-will-seek-insanity-defense-in-elizabeth-smart-kidnapping-trial/feed 0 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/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/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