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Elizabeth Smart To Take Stand In Competency Hearing For Accused Abductor

Sep. 28 2009, Published 10:17 a.m. ET

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Elizabeth Smart is set to give testimony in court about her interactions with homeless street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who abducted her when she was 14 at knife point and held her hostage for nine months in 2002.

See shocking photos of the inside of Jaycee Lee Dugard's kidnapper's home

A judge ruled that Smart can give testimony on Thursday in a hearing to determine if Mitchell is mentally competent to stand trial.

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See photos of Jaycee's backyard dungeon

Smart's testimony will be limited to the facts relating to her kidnapping and subsequent captivity and she will not be able to opine on Mitchell's state of mind.

Read and exclusive interview with Jaycee's aunt

"None of Ms. Smart's proposed testimony suggests that she will be opining on anything other than her lay observations," the judge said in his ruling.

A prosecutor says Smart will be able to provide important observations regarding Mitchell's behavior, including his preoccupation with sex, his lack of religious focus, his manipulation of others, his ability to lie and how he has rationalized his conduct.

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See video of the police digging up Garrido's back yard

Mitchell was indicted last year on federal charges of kidnapping and coercion of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity after allegedly taking Smart from Utah to California.

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