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Wednesday, April 7, 2010 as of 11:14 AM ET

Crime

Alicia Acuna

Denver, CO

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Smart Jury Day Two

December 10, 2010 - 10:42 AM | by: Alicia Acuna

The jury of five women and seven men begin a second day of deliberations in the trial of Brian David Mitchell, the man who admits kidnapping and raping Elizabeth Smart in 2002.  During closing arguments, defense attorney, Robert Steele said that the 57-year-old Mitchell did understand right from wrong when he committed his crimes against the then 14-year-old girl, but that he suffered from a mental illness that left him delusional in the belief he was following a commandment from God.  The prosecution countered, pointing to testimony from the past five weeks that showed Mitchell as a manipulative predator who used religion at his convenience to get what he wanted.  Mitchell’s estranged wife Wanda Barzee testified against the self-proclaimed prophet in a deal she cut with prosecutors.  Barzee is now serving a 15 year prison sentence at a federal prison in Texas.  Jurors in the case have three options before them: guilty, not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.  If the third option is chosen, Mitchell will be sent to a mental institution.  Deliberations get underway at 8:30 Mountain time this morning and U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball has given them the option to work until midnight, if necessary.  A Smart family spokesperson released a statement saying that a representative of the family will speak shortly after the verdict.  He said at this time, however, he does not know if that person will be Elizabeth Smart.