Barzee faces a hearing in kidnapping of Smart

Wanda Eileen Barzee, one of two people charged with kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, will have a competency hearing on Dec. 11 before 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton.

Mental health evaluations to determine whether Barzee is competent to stand trial were submitted to the court on Monday, but information in them has not been made public.

Barzee is charged with first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping along with her husband, Brian David Mitchell, in connection with the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart on June 5, 2002, from her Federal Heights home. The girl was found alive in Sandy on March 12, 2003, when passers-by spotted the trio and police arrested Mitchell and Barzee.

Barzee and Mitchell also are charged with five other felonies including two counts of first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault; two counts of first-degree aggravated burglary; and second-degree felony attempted aggravated kidnapping.

No court date has been set for a judge to review Mitchell's mental evaluations.

Meanwhile, Mitchell on Tuesday received another hearing date involving a charge of class B misdemeanor retail theft. Mitchell is scheduled to appear before Salt Lake City Justice Court Judge Zane Gill on April 30, 2004.