SALT LAKE CITY—Defense lawyers for the man charged in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart are arguing that a federal judge should move a November trial out of Utah so the defendant can get a fair trial.
Attorneys for Brian David Mitchell said Thursday that pretrial publicity has tainted the jury pool and that survey data shows potential jurors elsewhere have fewer prejudices.
Federal prosecutors oppose a venue change and say a jury pool would be drawn from across all of Utah, not just the Salt Lake City area. They contend the coverage has been well-balanced or has favored Mitchell.
The 56-year-old Mitchell is facing federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines.
Smart was 14 in 2002 when she was taken from her home at knifepoint. She was missing for nine months.
