Wanda Barzee Not To Testify?

A witness list released today for an upcoming competency hearing in the Brian David Mitchell prosecution for the abduction of Elizabeth Smart does not include Wanda Barzee, Mitchell's wife and accomplice in the kidnapping who recently pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges in what appeared to be a plea deal that would likely require her to testify against Mitchell in competency hearings and at trial. While the terms of the plea were never actually disclosed, it still seemed likely that Barzee would be required to testify against Mitchell to establish his competency to stand trial. The list still includes twenty-nine potential witnesses, but Barzee's testimony would have likely been the most damning to his defense of incompetency.

Wanda Barzee Pleads Guilty

Wanda Barzee pleads guilty to kidnapping charges stemming from her helping her husband, Brian David Mitchell in kidnapping Elizabeth Smart in 2002. Congratulations to the Utah legal system and the Smart family on taking a big step toward wrapping this case up.

What remains to be seen is whether Barzee struck a plea bargain (likely), whether she will testify against Mitchell in his upcoming competency hearing scheduled for November 30 (likely), and whether it will result in declaring Mitchell competent to stand trial for the kidnap and repeated rape of Ms. Smart.