It's not the content of Brian David Mitchell's religious beliefs -- many of which are shared by both mainstream and fundamentalist Mormons -- that is so bizarre, a clinical psychologist testified Thursday for the defense.
Mitchell qualifies as mentally ill because he equates himself with Jesus Christ or God, said Richart DeMier.
Both Mitchell and members of the LDS Church believe the world will end with a cataclysmic battle between good and evil. But Mitchell believes he will have a major role in the outcome of that end-time battle, DeMier said.
DeMier, a federal Bureau of Prisons psychologist, has diagnosed Mitchell as paranoid schizophrenic and said there are grandiose and persecutory aspects to his illness.
He was testifying at a hearing to help U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball determine whether Mitchell, 56, is mentally competent to stand trial in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart.
Prosecutors allege Mitchell is faking psychological symptoms to avoid prosecution. Defense attorneys contend he is unable to assist in his defense due to his religious delusions.
Mitchell believes he is "divinely ordained to fulfill a special role at the end of the world, putting himself on par with Jesus or God," DeMier testified.
Addressing the persecutory aspect, DeMier quoted Mitchell's writings where he describes being "mocked, scorned and ridiculed."
"He feels he must suffer as Christ suffered," DeMier said.
DeMier said Mitchell uses crucifixion as a metaphor for the ills he expects to be inflicted on him. "It makes everything else meaningless," including Mitchell's criminal prosecution, DeMier said.
During cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Hagan asked DeMier if he was aware that mainstream and fundamentalist LDS members believe they can receive revelations from God.
DeMier replied, "There's nothing delusional about that."
He added that other LDS beliefs -- like laying hands on someone's head to tell the future, known as a patriarchal blessing, or believing that one can become a god -- are not bizarre when viewed "within the cultural context."
But when asked about the claim by many fundamentalist leaders that they are "the one mighty and strong, the Davidic king," DeMier said it would be "worthy of asking the question" if they are delusional.
DeMier said that during four hours of interviews, Mitchell was, at times "clear, articulate and deliberate" in his speech. But he would revert to "archaic" speech when talking about religious subjects. Mitchell stopped talking when DeMier steered the conversation toward the legal case.
Forensic psychologist Jennifer Skeem began her testimony Thursday by refuting claims by two prosecution experts that Mitchell fooled her five years ago, which led to Mitchell being declared incompetent in state court.
Skeem, the only expert at the time to whom Mitchell would speak, spent 21 hours with him in 2004.
Skeem, 39, said she was "offended" that psychiatrists Michael Welner and Noel Gardner are claiming she got the interviews only because she was a young female.
"The prosecution has painted me as a wide-eyed pretty young miss misled by a cunning psychopath ... [or] as a hired gun who collaborated with an unethical defense team to fool the court," Skeem said.
She also said prosecutors inferred that changes in Mitchell's competence during late 2004 were "made up, and that we taught him to sing in court."
Skeem said that Mitchell was "all over the map." He at one point decided to plead guilty to all charges, then wanted to go to trial, saying "the Lord" was giving him direction, Skeem said.
The behavior prompted Skeem to file a competency petition on Nov. 10, 2004, which cited concerns about Mitchell's ability to behave appropriately in court.
The petition pre-dated Mitchell's first courtroom outburst by about a month, but Skeem said she was referring to Mitchell's "capacity to track ... and be engaged."
Because of Mitchell's singing, he has been watching the court proceedings on closed-circuit television in another room. But Skeem says she understands he has been tearing up napkins to make earplugs and turning away from the video monitor.
In the past weeks, he has not even attended the hearing.
Arrest » Brian David Mitchell, 56, and his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, 64, are accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart on June 5, 2002, from her home in the Federal Heights neighborhood. They were arrested in March 2003 while walking in Sandy with the girl.
Medication » A judge in the state's 3rd District Court has ruled Mitchell cannot be forcibly medicated to try to restore his mental competency; the same judge ruled Barzee could be forcibly medicated, a process that began at the Utah State Hospital in May 2008.
Indictment » The state case against Mitchell and Barzee stalled over the competency issue, leading the U.S. Attorney's Office to begin a case against the couple. A federal grand jury issued an indictment last year charging Mitchell and Barzee with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor.
Competency ruling » Doctors at the State Hospital said this fall they believe Barzee is now mentally competent. She pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to the federal charges and agreed to testify against Mitchell in exchange for a 15-year prison term.
