Elizabeth Smart, a Women of Courage, Confronts Kidnapper in Court

May 26, 2011

The world followed the story of Elizabeth Smart nine years ago.  A young beautiful girl kidnapped while sleeping in her bed.  Grown up now and at age 23, Elizabeth Smart displayed poise and courage yesterday when she confronted her kidnapper and rapist during his sentencing hearing.

ABC News – Elizabeth Smart confronted her abductor and told him “in this life or next you will have to be held responsible” before he was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping her at age 14, raping her and holding her captive.

“I know that you know what you did was wrong,” a stoical Smart, now 23, told her tormentor, Brian David Mitchell, 57, who was singing during the sentencing.

But she told him, “I have a wonderful life now.”

Smart was only yards away from Mitchell, a homeless street preacher, who was found guilty in December of kidnapping and transportation of a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity.

“I don’t have very much to say to you,” she said. “I know exactly what you did. I know that you know what you did was wrong. You did it with a full knowledge. I also want you to know that I have a wonderful life now, that no matter what you do will it affect me again. You took away nine months of my life that can never be returned, but in this life or next, you will have to be held responsible for those actions, and I hope you are ready for when that time comes.”

Elizabeth’s father, Ed Smart, also addressed Mitchell, saying, “Your perversion and exploitation of religion is not a defense. It is disgusting and it is an abuse that anyone should despise. Regardless of what the defense has proposed, you put Elizabeth through nine months of psychological hell.”

“I am so thrilled with the results that came out today, I could not be happier,” said Elizabeth Smart after the sentencing. “Not only am I happy that I had this result, but today is as my dad said is National Missing Children’s Day.”

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