Elizabeth Smart: Abductor Was 'Self-Serving,' 'Vulgar'

Says he used religion to justify his actions
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 10, 2010 4:04 PM CST
Elizabeth Smart: Abductor Was 'Self-Serving,' 'Vulgar'
Elizabeth Smart is escorted into Frank Moss Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City to testify Wednesday.   (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)

Elizabeth Smart wrapped up her testimony in the trial of Brian David Mitchell today, making clear that she doesn't think the man accused of subjecting her to daily rapes for 9 months is a man of God as he claims. In her words: "He was crude and vulgar, self-serving. He was his number one priority, followed by sex, drugs and alcohol, but he used religion in all those aspects to justify everything."

The defense cross-examination was short and civil, though the Salt Lake Tribune notes that Smart had anger in her voice when Mitchell's attorney suggested that, on the night of the abduction, she wrongly interpreted his words as a threat to kill her. “I have no other idea how to interpret it with a knife at my neck," she shot back. The Tribune has a transcript of today's testimony here. For more on the case, click here.
(More Elizabeth Smart trial stories.)

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