Sweat Lodge Update: Jury deliberations begin in manslaughter trial of James Arthur Ray
(CBS/AP) CAMP VERDE, Arizona - Jurors have begun deliberating the fate of television self-help guru James Arthur Ray, who is facing manslaughter charges in the deaths of three people at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony.
On Oct. 8, 2009, Ray took more than 50 participants into a small sweat lodge at the Angel Valley Retreat Center about two hours north of Phoenix. Three participants died after the ceremony and more than a dozen were hospitalized.
Closing arguments were made last week before the case went to the jury who must now pore over hundreds of exhibits and countless hours of testimony that began March 1.
Jurors must decide on whether James Arthur Ray was aware of, and consciously disregarded, a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death at the October 2009 ceremony.
Prosecutors called about three dozen witnesses, and the defense had two people testify to support its argument that toxins possibly contributed to the deaths of Liz Neuman, 49, of Minnesota; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, New York.Ray's attorneys contend authorities botched the investigation into the sweat lodge and then improperly charged him with what amounted to a tragic accident.
A conviction on all three manslaughter counts could send Ray to prison for over than 37 years. Ray could also be found guilty of the lesser crime of negligent homicide which has a maximum sentence of about 11 years. The self-author would be eligible for parole in either case.