Posted on 05/23/2010 11:21:17 PM PDT by Steelfish
Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Apologizes To Family At Sentencing By Emanuella Grinberg and Ashley Hayes, CNN May 21, 2010
Wanda Barzee pleaded guilty earlier to federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.
(CNN) -- A woman who admitted her role in kidnapping Utah teen Elizabeth Smart in 2002 was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison. Wanda Eileen Barzee, 64, apologized to the Smart family during the 30-minute sentencing in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. "I know the gravity of my crimes and how severe they have been, and I'm just so sorry, again, for all the pain and suffering I have caused upon the Smart family," Barzee said, according to court transcripts. As part of a plea deal between the defense and federal prosecutors, Judge Dale Kimball gave Barzee credit for seven years that she already has served, the U.S. attorney in Utah said.
After her release, at about age 70, Barzee will be on supervised release for 60 months, federal prosecutors said. Barzee pleaded guilty in November to federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor in Smart's kidnapping. In exchange for her guilty plea, she agreed to cooperate in the state and federal cases against her husband, Brian David Mitchell, federal prosecutors said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Article states:
“At a competency hearing for Mitchell in October, Smart, now 21, testified that she had been held captive in Utah and California. Just after her abduction, Mitchell took her to a wooded area behind her home and performed a mock marriage ceremony with her, she said. During the nine months of her captivity, Smart testified, no 24-hour period passed without her being raped by Mitchell.”
She should never be released after such a horrific ongoing crime spree. Why is her cooperation needed against her husband? There is more than enough evidence to convict him also.
I read the story of Elizabeth Smart after hearing of this “apology.” My God, what a strong person she is, to have moved on with her life. Truly inspirational.
The way I understand her statement, she was raped at least once each day, but not hourly.
Yes that is true redemption for a crime she did not commit.
I remember reading that Hitler stopped the drive for Dunkirk. This article makes Hitler’s decision clearer now.
Oops, sorry that comment about Hitler and Dunkirk this was posted. It was meant for another thread.
I don’t understand your meaning.
Sorry to cryptic I guess. That she did not let it destroy her.
And I agree. God bless her.
I was wondering!!!
Thank the Lord she didn’t conceive a child from her tormenter.
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