Prosecutors: Mitchell faked mental illness

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Utah street preacher who allegedly kidnapped Elizabeth Smart will be exposed by witnesses as faking mental illness, U.S. prosecutors say.

In court documents filed Tuesday, prosecutors said they would present relatives and former neighbors of Brian David Mitchell who will claim the self-proclaimed prophet faked mental illness in a bid to escape responsibility for his crimes, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Mitchell, 55, faces trial on charges he kidnapped Smart in 2002 when she was 14 and took her to California with the intent to have sex. A hearing is set to begin this month on whether Mitchell can understand the charges against him, and prosecutors say the witnesses will testify that Mitchell is competent to stand trial.

The Tribune said testimony would come from witnesses including employees at Utah State Hospital and people Mitchell befriended when he needed food or shelter. Among their testimony would be allegations he molested several of them when they were children or teens and that he attempted to abduct several young girls to take as "wives" while Smart was being held captive.