| Second Day of Testimony in Warren Jeffs' Trial | |||
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By Edward Lawrence, Reporter KLAS-TV Channel 8 - Las Vegas | |||
(Sept. 14) -- A woman who says polygamist leader Warren Jeffs forced her to marry and have sex with her cousin countinued telling her story to jurors Friday. The now 21-year-old gave a tearful testimony about her forced marriage to her cousin. Jurors also heard tape recordings of Jeffs talking about how women must be obedient to men in marriage. FLDS leader Warren Jeffs is on trial for rape as an accomplice for forcing the marriage. (Sept. 13) -- The first day of testimony in the Warren Jeffs trial is over in a southern Utah courtroom. The jury of seven women and five men were seated. As opening statements started, the victim listened while her current husband -- who helped her escape from the polygamist community -- held her hand. Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist LDS church, which believes in polygamy. He was arrested last year in Las Vegas for two counts of rape as an accomplice. The charges stem from an arranged marriage between an underage girl and an older man. Warren Jeffs sat in court emotionless, as he has throughout the court process. He tried to make eye contact with each of the seven women and five men seated for the final jury. The prosecution portrayed Jeffs as a man who arranged marriages and taught girls from a very young age to obey his wishes, as well as any man Jeffs thought the girl should marry. Washington County, Utah District Attorney Brock Belnap says the victim went back to Jeffs several times pleading to get out of the marriage. The prosecution says Jeffs commanded her to give herself to her new husband mind, body, and soul. Defense Attorney Tara Isaacson told jurors there was no rape because a 14-year-old can consent to sex under Utah law. Isaacson added the victim never told Jeffs she was being raped, therefore Jeffs could not be guilty of something he did not know about. Defense attorneys told the jury the victim lied by changing her testimony. The defense insinuated she's lying for money. The victim filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffs and has received money from the state's victim's fund. She took the stand late Thursday afternoon and will continue testimony Friday. Outside of court, attorneys would not comment about the case. But Elaine Tyler was talking. She runs a non-profit group that helps women break away from the polygamist community. She helped several women on the witness list leave the FLDS church. The Warren Jeffs trail is expected to last two weeks. E-mail your comments to Reporter Edward Lawrence. | |||
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LasVegasNow.com Originally Originally broadcast September 14, 2007 | |||
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