pleasant-mannered former school teacher brought his own attorney
Prosecutor Eric Nichols objected several times, saying that cheap hair feathers neither man’s beliefs were relevant to a sexual assault charge.
“This is not the trial of [Mormon Church founder] Joseph Smith, it’s the trial of Warren Steed Jeffs,” Nichols said.
Judge Barbara Walther let Jeffs continue, but admonished him to stay on topic.
“I don’t believe the pursuit of your defense should be trying to lecture or teach the jury about your religion,” she said. For their part, some jurors appeared impatient as the religious testimony continued.
Earlier on Day 8 of the trial, those 10 women and two men heard an audio recording of Jeffs allegedly having sex with a 12-year-old plural wife — with two other wives present, and possibly participating.
Jeffs is heard panting and breathing heavily throughout the 21-minute tape recording. And while it was difficult to hear portions due to background noise, a girl’s voice occasionally can be heard and Jeffs twice refers to the alleged victim by name.
The girl is not heard resisting, and there are no overt references to sex.
But prosecutors had earlier presented testimony that certain phrases heard on the tape are used wholesale feather hair extensions by Jeffs and his followers to refer to sex, including “heavenly comfort” and “heavenly sessions.”
After calling FLDS member J.D. Roundy to the testify, Jeffs asked him to read selections from Mormon scripture and the writings of church founder Joseph Smith. The topics included the “everlasting covenant” of plural marriage, and the idea of a living prophet who is the voice of God.
“How many can hold this authority?” asked Jeffs, who is considered the prophet by the 10,000 or so members of the FLDS. The mainstream LDS Church renounced polygamy more than a century ago.
“One at a time can, on this earth,” Roundy said. The ruddy, pleasant-mannered former school teacher brought his own attorney to the stand and also testified about his own faith in the sect’s beliefs. Jeffs also entered several books of Mormon teachings and scripture into evidence.
The questioning turned comical as Roundy began delaying his answers, anticipating Nichols to object. Jeffs appeared to be the only person in the courtroom who did not laugh at some point.
Roundy testified with his own attorney sitting at his side. Every time Jeffs asked Roundy a question about the FLDS views on plural marriage, Roundy consulted with lawyer before answering.
When Roundy had been on the witness stand for 4½ hours, and Walther was about to declare the examination complete, Jeffs asked for a continuation to think of acceptable questions. Walther told Roundy to return to court in the morning.
Earlier on day 8 of the trial, the jury of 10 women and two men heard an audio recording of Jeffs allegedly having sex with the 12-year-old girl he is accused of taking as a wife — with two other wives present, and possibly participating.
Jeffs is heard panting and breathing heavily throughout the 21-minute tape recording. And while it was difficult to hear some portions due to background noise, a girl’s voice occasionally can be heard and Jeffs twice refers to the alleged victim by name.
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