Psychologist may testify

Attorneys for accused Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian David Mitchell have filed notice that they may call a California psychologist to the stand in their client's second competency hearing.

Jennifer L. Skeem, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at the University of California, Irvine, may be called as an expert witness.

Skeem previously submitted a report on Mitchell's competency to 3rd District Court Judge Judith Atherton on Sept. 16 and a second report on Feb. 1, according to court documents. It was unknown at week's end what was in her most recent report.

Skeem, a forensic psychologist, was hired by the the defense last year to do an evaluation of Mitchell and initially found him competent to stand trial. She reportedly said she needed to update her evaluation, however, following a jail visit with Mitchell in October.

Without going into detail, Mitchell's attorneys said their client's "reasoning was more strongly driven by his delusions."

Skeem was not one of the two doctors assigned by the court to evaluate Mitchell. Doctors Noel Gardner and Stephen Golding were ordered to do a second evaluation of Mitchell following a pair of singing and chanting outbursts by the self-proclaimed prophet in court.

Gardner has already submitted his report to the court, and Atherton indicated during Mitchell's last hearing that he had found the former street preacher competent for a second time.

Golding's report is due Tuesday. Mitchell's second competency hearing was scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16.

Mitchell, 51, along with his co-defendant and wife, Wanda Barzee, 59, were indicted by a state grand jury Sept. 4, 2003, charged with aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping after allegedly kidnapping Smart from her home in 2002.

Mitchell was initially ruled competent to stand trial Aug. 31.

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