Couple charged in Smart kidnap make court appearance via video

SALT LAKE CITY -- Charged with felonies that could send them to prison for life, the suspects in the Elizabeth Smart abduction stood expressionless Wednesday during their first court appearance by video from the county jail.

Brian David Mitchell, 49, and his wife, Wanda Barzee, 57, were ordered held on $10 million bail each and were appointed public defenders in a hearing that lasted only a few minutes.

Each was visible from the shoulders up as they appeared separately on television screens. Both stood impassively as charges were read; Barzee blinked repeatedly.

They were charged Tuesday with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary in the June 5 abduction.

They also were charged with aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated kidnapping for allegedly trying to abduct Elizabeth's 18-year-old cousin on July 24. A window was cut, but the family heard the noise and called police.

When asked if his name was Brian David Mitchell, the self-proclaimed prophet to the homeless responded: "That is the name that the world calls me by, yes." Barzee acknowledged her own name.

Their next court date was scheduled for April 1, where they are expected to enter pleas.

The couple, drifters who lived by panhandling in Salt Lake City for at least a decade, say they have no money. Attorneys were appointed to represent them.

Smart may testify

Prosecutors said Elizabeth may be asked to testify.

Smart family spokesman Chris Thomas said the family would rather not have Elizabeth take the stand, "but they're willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that these two individuals receive the proper punishment."

Thomas also said family members will no longer answer questions about Elizabeth's nine-month ordeal.

Prosecutors say Mitchell, who wrote in a rambling manifesto that God commanded him to take seven wives, took Elizabeth at knifepoint from her bedroom. He then forced her to walk four miles up a mountain trail behind her house, threatening to harm or kill the girl's family members if she resisted, according to court documents.

The couple held Elizabeth at a concealed campsite until Oct. 8 with little shelter, water or food, prosecutors said. They then took her to California, where they stayed until March 5, according to court documents.

Family members have said that Elizabeth was brainwashed, preventing her from escaping despite several opportunities to flee.

Elizabeth, now 15, was found with the couple on March 12 in suburban Sandy.

While none of Elizabeth's immediate family attended Wednesday's hearing, a small army of bikers in full black leather-and-studs regalia showed up at their request. Thirty members of Bikers Against Child Abuse, who had scoured mountain trails and Salt Lake City's rougher neighborhoods during the search for the girl, packed several benches.

One of the trails they searched led up Dry Creek Canyon behind the Smart home, said group spokesman, Paul DuBois.

"Oh, man, we searched up there," he said. "We went right by (the campsite) and didn't see her. I don't know how we missed her."