SALT LAKE CITY – A judge on Wednesday unsealed an indictment against Brian David Mitchell (search), who is suspected of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart in 2002.
The motion clears the way for a criminal trial and comes one day after the self-proclaimed prophet was ruled competent to stand trial. Unsealing the indictment moves the case toward a trial without a preliminary hearing in which Elizabeth Smart (search) could have been called to testify.
Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, when a trial date could be set.
Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee (search), face kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping charges. His wife has been found incompetent to stand trial twice and is undergoing treatment at a state mental hospital.
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