http://www.religionnewsblog.com Religion news about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 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/22852/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-2 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22852/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-2#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:05:05 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=22852 Once court resumed, Alba entered a "not guilty" plea on behalf of Mitchell, gave prosecutors a week to gather the evidence from the state competency hearing so it could be shared with the judge and defense, and set another hearing for Nov. 12.

At that time, Alba is expected to rule on the government's motion for a competency evaluation for Mitchell at a federal facility. ]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22852/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper-2/feed 0 http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22693/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22693/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:32:44 +0000 Religion News Blog http://www.religionnewsblog.com/?p=22693 Brian David Mitchell, accused in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, does not meet the criteria for forced medication, a 3rd District judge ruled Thursday.

Judge Judith Atherton wrote in a 44-page decision that the likelihood that psychotropic medications would help Mitchell is too low to warrant forcing him to take them.

U.S. District Attorney Brett Tolman subsequently announced Friday that his office has started the process to prosecute Mitchell in federal court.]]> http://www.religionnewsblog.com/22693/elizabeth-smart-kidnapper/feed 0