Posted on 04/23/2003 8:28:33 PM PDT by ChemistCat
Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, the two accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and holding her for nine months, made their first in-person court appearances Tuesday afternoon.
The hearings were held separately. Mitchell and Barzee were not in the courtroom at the same time and did not see each other.
Barzee did not say a word during her brief hearing and did not look at the people sitting in the courtroom gallery. But watching her was Barzee's mother, Dora Corbett.
"I just wanted to see her and see what's going on," Corbett told reporters outside the courtroom.
She said she had not talked to her daughter since her arrest and the last time she saw her was about a year ago at her stepfather's funeral.
Corbett said she was "shocked" when she heard Barzee was arrested in connection with Smart's kidnapping. And as for the situation her daughter is in, "I think it stinks, myself."
Nevertheless, Corbett conceded, "They caught her with him."
Mitchell was the first of the two to arrive for his hearing. He wore a yellow jump suit from the jail and orange shoes. His legs were shackled and his hands were handcuffed behind his back.
Mitchell, with his long scraggly beard and long hair, did not say a word during his brief hearing before Judge Judith Atherton. Security was tight with nine deputies watching over the courtroom. No one in the gallery was allowed to sit in the row directly behind Mitchell.
The purpose of the hearing was for the court to get an update on the mental competency evaluations for both defendants.
Mitchell's attorney, David Biggs, said his client's evaluation would not be completed for at least another 30 days, perhaps much longer.
"No significant progress has been made," Biggs said.
As Mitchell was led back to his holding cell by deputies, he looked into the gallery, apparently seeing who was present.
After a short recess, Barzee was brought into the courtroom. She wore a blue jumpsuit from the jail and white shoes. She had her legs shackled and her hands were handcuffed in front of her.
Barzee's attorneys, Scott Williams and David Finlayson, also said their client's evaluation really wouldn't start until next week and another 30 days, at minimum, would be needed before it can be completed.
Barzee appeared stone-faced and said nothing as she walked in and out of the courtroom.
"She looked very different," Corbett said afterward. "She doesn't have that cheerful smile she used to have."
When asked what caused her daughter to change, Corbett said it was probably a combination of a lot of things but did not elaborate.
"She sure is a different daughter than what she used to be. I don't know what happened," she said.
As for Mitchell, "He used to be a kind, fun man. They used to go to church and do what they were supposed to," Corbett said.
Corbett said if she could deliver a message to her daughter she would simply tell her, "I love her."
Both Mitchell's and Barzee's roll-call hearings were continued until a date to be determined when the mental evaluations are completed.
She's alive. I'm still thanking God for that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.