Defense Psychiatrist Says Mitchell Is Paranoid Schizophrenic

(Dec. 2) -- A prison psychologist testified today that the street preacher accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart is a paranoid schizophrenic, convinced that he will battle the Antichrist.

"I believe he has a mental illness," said Richard DeMier, a clinical psychologist who conducted a court-ordered evaluation of Brian David Mitchell. "I believe he is properly diagnosed as schizophrenia, paranoid type."

DeMier was the final defense witness called in the trial in federal court in Salt Lake City. Mitchell, 57, is charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Mitchell believes he will lead a group of wives out of Babylon and will help establish Zion, DeMier told the court, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

Prosecutors say Mitchell kidnapped the then-14-year-old Smart at knifepoint from her bedroom in her family's home in Salt Lake City in June 2002. She was found nine months later in the company of Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, who earlier pleaded guilty in the case.

Smart, now 23 years old, has testified that Mitchell repeatedly raped her and would pray for her to have sex with him. She said Mitchell made her drink alcohol and smoke marijuana and threatened to kill her and her family if she tried to escape.

His attorneys argue that he is mentally ill and cannot be held responsible for his actions.

DeMier met with Mitchell for five hours and reviewed thousands of pages of evidence.

He concluded that Mitchell is a schizophrenic, which means the defendant is disconnected from reality. DeMier said that Mitchell held delusional beliefs that could never become true.

In a dramatic moment Wednesday, Smart ran out of the courtroom, the first time she has become visibly upset during the trial, which has featured harrowing testimony about her ordeal. She was upset after hearing Paul Whitehead, a forensic psychologist, testify for the defense that she had discussed having a baby with Mitchell and had chosen a name for the child, CNN reported.

"Mr. Mitchell was talking with Ms. Smart about having babies to the point where Ms. Smart actually picked out a name in case that happened," Whitehead testified.

Earlier in the week, proceedings were halted after Mitchell appeared to have a seizure. He was taken to the hospital but returned to the courtroom the next day, only to be ejected from the court for incessantly singing. Mitchell has sung throughout much of the trial and has repeatedly been removed by the judge. He is able to watch the proceedings from another room.

Now that the defense has completed its case, the prosecution are expected to present five days of rebuttal testimony. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations on Dec. 10.