Wanda Barzee says she 'learned to be submissive and obedient'

Editor's note: Deseret News reporters have provided unofficial line by line transcripts of much of Wanda Barzee's testimony from Thursday.

SALT LAKE CITY — The estranged wife of the man on trial for kidnapping Elizabeth Smart took the witness stand about 1 p.m. Thursday to testify for the very first time. Defense attorney Bob Steele began asking her questions.

Judge: Wanda, will you stand and be sworn please?

(She is sworn and spells her name.)

Bob Steele: Good afternoon. Do you know Brian David Mitchell? What is your relationship to him?

Wanda Barzee: I'm married to him.

Steele: How long have you been married?

Barzee: I think about 25 years.

Steele: When did you meet him?

Barzee: I met him, it was about in 1985, I was introduced to him at the 10th ward Salt Lake Park Stake.

Steele: Were you both members?

Barzee: Yes.

Steele: And where did you have more contact with him?

Barzee: Originally, I met him in group counseling with Jolene Green.

Steele: What kind of group counseling was it?

Barzee: I was told I was gonna learn how to get in touch with feelings so I wouldn't get depressed.

Steele: What kind of things were talked about in the group counseling, was it all about depression or were there other things?

Barzee: There were other things, there were individual problems that people had.

Steele: Was depression the thing you all shared or was there something else you all shared?

Barzee: I don't remember.

Steele: How did you become close through the group counseling?