Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(Salt Lake City-AP) -- A judge says the vagabond couple charged with kidnapping Elizabeth Smart will have to have mental competency evaluations.
Today's order from third District Judge Judith Atherton came after defense lawyers said they didn't object to the videotaped examinations for self-styled prophet Brian Mitchell, and his wife, Wanda Barzee.
The evaluations will determine whether both are fit to stand trial and could take two months.
Mitchell and Barzee have been charged with burglary, kidnapping and sexual assault for taking the 14-year-old girl from her bedroom last June and keeping her for nine months while living a transient lifestyle in Utah and California.
Each is being held on ten (M)million dollars bail in the Salt Lake County jail.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
