Witness testimony during a federal court hearing for the man charged in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart on Monday began to paint a picture of a self-absorbed, intelligent and controlling person.

Brian David Mitchell was also concerned about his public image, wanted to be recognized as a Mormon prophet and was obsessive about his personal habits _ eating on a rigid schedule and exercising for hours at a time _ and his religion, said stepdaughter LouRee Gaylor.

"Religion was everything," said Gaylor, whose mother, Wanda Eileen Barzee, has already pleaded guilty to kidnapping and other charges in the case.

Gaylor, 34, was the last of four prosecution witnesses who testified.

Mitchell, 56, was indicted on charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines in 2008 _ five years after he was arrested. He faces a lifetime prison sentence if convicted.

Religion was at the center of daily life, said Gaylor, who lived with the couple for two years beginning in 1988. But the kind image Mitchell projected to outsiders was a ruse, she said.

"It was a cover-up," said Gaylor, who moved out after learning the couple had cooked and served her a pet rabbit for dinner one night. "It was so they could get people to do things for them."

At home, Mitchell was dominating, used abusive language and displayed inappropriate sexual behavior, including showing her pornographic pictures during a family prayer session, Gaylor said.

Mitchell's federal public defenders did not challenge Gaylor's statements on Monday.

Federal prosecutors contend Mitchell is competent and faking or exaggerating psychiatric symptoms to avoid prosecution.

But defense attorneys dispute that conclusion and say the former street preacher is unable to participate in his defense. In state court, Mitchell was diagnosed with a rare delusional disorder and twice deemed incompetent for trial, stalling a criminal case there.

On Monday, Mitchell repeated a pattern of disruptive court appearances, singing Christmas carols _ including "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World" _ for 12 minutes before being removed to a holding cell where he could hear and watch the hearing.

After the hearing, U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball's will determine how the case proceeds _ either to a trial or toward treatment that could restore Mitchell's competency.

Also Monday, two psychiatric technicians who worked at the Utah State Hospital when Mitchell was held there testified. Tye Jensen and David Talley both said Mitchell was smart and formed relationships with other patients.