Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Sentenced

more images

SALT LAKE CITY (GaeaTimes.com)- The kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart, 64 year-old Wanda Barzee was sentenced to 15 years of jail term on Friday. The sentencing comes after Wanda Barzee, the kidnapper Elizabeth Smart pleaded guilty at the fall of last year of kidnapping and unlawfully transporting a minor to another state. The sentence was read out by Dale Kimball, the U.S. District judge who added that Wanda Barzee’s would get the credit for the seven years she had spent behind bars after her arrest. Apart from the jail term, under the plea agreement Wanda Barzee has also agreed to testify against her estranged husband Brian David Mitchell in the federal and state cases pending against him. The judge also announced that the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart would serve her prison term at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Texas’ Fort Worth.

On Friday, U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen mentioned that the law of United States believes that the 15 years sentencing reflects the seriousness of the offence committed by Wanda Barzee and that the judgment promotes respect for the law at the same time provides “just punishment” to the guilty. Carlie Christensen added that the judgment has been past keeping in mind the defendant’s past cooperation and the willingness to support the law in the future as well. The family of Elizabeth Smart was present during the sentencing.

During the 30-minute sentencing at the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, Wanda Barzee apologized to the family of Elizabeth Smart in the court transcript which mentioned that she knows the severity of the crime committed by her and that she is sorry for the pain she has given to the family of Elizabeth Smart by kidnapping her.