From Deseret News archives:
Barzee accepts ruling on her sanity
But she asserts she doesn't consider herself mentally ill
The move could result in Barzee, 58, being sent to the Utah State Hospital for treatment.
Defense attorneys Scott Williams and David Finlayson on Wednesday filed a waiver of Barzee's right to a mental-competency hearing a hearing she had previously requested. But in a statement included in the document, Barzee made it clear that she still disagrees with the diagnoses of Dr. Nancy Cohn and Dr. Jeff Kovnick.
"I do not believe myself to be mentally ill or infirm or incompetent in the eyes of the Lord," Barzee wrote.
The doctors could not "understand the special nature of my relationship with God and my role as a minister and servant unto Him," she said. "He has given me a discerning spirit, which the evaluators cannot understand. Their inability to understand is also a result of their different belief system and the influence of Satan's subtle powers upon them."
In a separate development Thursday, David Biggs, the attorney for co-defendant Brian David Mitchell, 50, withdrew from the case and reportedly is leaving the Legal Defenders Association for another position. The Legal Defenders Association confirmed Biggs' withdrawal, but no explanation was offered Thursday.
Biggs could not be reached for comment Thursday. There was also no word Thursday whether Kimberly Clark, who was co-counsel for Mitchell, would take over the case entirely or if someone else would be brought in to help represent Mitchell.
Barzee and Mitchell are charged with kidnapping Elizabeth, then 14, in 2002 and holding her for nine months. Elizabeth was taken from her home during the night of June 5, 2002, sparking a nationwide search. On March 12, 2003, two couples in Sandy noticed three people walking near 10200 S. State and notified police, who subsequently arrested Mitchell and Barzee and returned Elizabeth to her family.
In addition to being charged with first-degree felony kidnapping, Barzee and Mitchell are also charged with five other felonies: two counts of first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault, two counts of first-degree aggravated burglary and second-degree felony attempted aggravated kidnapping.
Comments
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...



You can be the first to comment on this story.