SEDONA, Ariz., June 16 (UPI) -- Self-help guru James Arthur Ray, accused in the deaths of three people in an Arizona sweat-lodge ceremony, pushed his followers too far, a prosecutor said.
During her closing arguments Thursday, Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk told jurors Ray did not mean to kill James Shore, Kirby Brown and Lizbeth Neuman during the "Spiritual Warrior Retreat," AZFamily.com reported.
"He didn't intend for them to die," Polk said. "But he intended to use that heat to take them to the edge of death so they would have this extreme mental experience and think they were getting something for their $10,000."
Polk recounted witness testimony that Ray told the participants "it was OK to pass out inside the sweat lodge and that they would be taken care of."
The defense says Ray didn't force anyone to stay in the sweat lodge.
"People decided not to go in the sweat lodge," defense attorney Luis Li said. "People went in and came back out. James Shore himself helped people out and he chose to come back in."
Li also contends authorities failed to investigate other potential causes of death such as toxins or poisons, and noted a medical examiner found none of the victims had a severely elevated temperature associated with heat stroke.
"The government has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Ray or anyone knew people were dying," Lie said.
Closing arguments will continue Friday.
The New Age gospel preacher is on trial for manslaughter in the October 2009 deaths of Neuman, 49, of Minnesota, Brown, 38, of New York and Shore, 40, of Wisconsin, who died of heat stroke or organ failure.
