Sweat Lodge Update: Jury Selection Begins in Manslaughter Trial of James Arthur Ray
(CBS/AP) Sixteen months after three people died at an Arizona sweat lodge retreat, jury selection is under way in the trial of James Arthur Ray, the motivational speaker and self-styled spiritual guru accused of manslaughter in the case.
Ray has pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter, stemming from the two-hour ceremony he led near Sedona in October 2009, that ended in the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys have spent the past few weeks narrowing the list of potential jurors.
Prosecutors contend Ray recklessly crammed more than 50 people inside a sweltering sweat lodge and admonished them for wanting to leave.
Ray's attorneys say the deaths were a tragic accident and he is not to blame.
Opening statements are set for March 1 in Camp Verde, Ariz.
The judge overseeing the case says he'll see if an impartial jury can be seated before ruling on a change of venue motion.