Elizabeth Smart Captor Brought to Justice

Seven years after she was taken from her bed while sleeping and held captive for nine months, Elizabeth Smart is finally seeing her captors brought to justice.

The trial against the husband and wife team charged in her abduction finally kicked off Tuesday with a guilty plea by Wanda Eileen Barzee.

"I am so sorry, Elizabeth, for all the pain and suffering I have caused you and your family," Barzee, 64, said Tuesday, as reported by the Associated Press. "It is my hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me."

In a Salt Lake City federal court, Barzee pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines. She agreed to the plea and the 15-year sentence (with credit for about six years already served), provided she testifies against her husband, Brian David Mitchell. The plea means Smart will not have to testify against Barzee. She didn't even attend the hearing.

Barzee was originally deemed mentally unfit to enter a plea, but has been on court-ordered anti-psychotic medication for 15 months, and a Utah hospital gave her the all-clear.

Smart, now 22, is reportedly preparing to serve a mission in Paris for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her father, Ed Smart, was in court and said during the hearing that he hoped Barzee realized what she did was "absolutely wrong and absolutely horrible." Outside the court, however, he said that forgiveness was possible.

"Absolutely," he said. "We all make mistakes in life ... and if we can't forgive each other, heaven help us."

Mitchell kidnapped Smart in March 2002 and brought her to a remote camp where Barzee helped keep the girl tied up. Mitchell's trial is set to begin Nov. 30.

According to an LA Times blog, U.S. attorney said Tuesday's events begin the process of "bring[ing] long-awaited closure to Smart and her family." We can only hope that's true.

Photo courtesy of srqpix via Flickr.