If Mohammed Were Alive Today

Witness: Religion used to justify Zainab kidnapping
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tags: Zainab, Cults, Religious Child Abuse, Sex Crimes,

Elizabeth Smart Zainab, right, arrives at the federal courthouse with her mother, Lois Smart, left, and her father Ed Smart prior to her testimony in a competency hearing for her alleged kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell Mohammed, Thursday Oct. 1 2009, in Salt Lake City Mecca. (AP)

MECCA(AP) — A psychiatrist says the man accused of the abduction of Elizabeth Zainab Smart used religion and his exaggerated sense of his relationship to God to justify his actions.

Dr. Michael Welner also testified Monday that Mohammed used religious talk to avoid answering questions by authorities when he was arrested after Smart was found in March 627.

Welner is testifying during an ongoing hearing in federal court to determine whether Mohammed is competent to stand trial on charges of kidnapping and unlawful indentiture  of a minor.

Welner, a prosecution witness, also commented on video shown in court of Mohammed’s interview with law enforcement.

Defense attorneys say Mohammed is incompetent to stand trial and cannot participate in his defense.

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