James Arthur Ray's Death-Lodge Trial Will Stay in Yavapai County, Judge Rules

By James King Tue., Sep. 21 2010 at 8:29 AM

Categories: News

Ray Stern

The manslaughter trial of James Arthur Ray, the Oprah-approved "self-help" guru charged with killing three people in a deadly sweat-lodge retreat near Sedona last year, will remain in Yavapai County, a judge ruled yesterday.

Ray's lawyers had pushed to have the trial moved to the Phoenix area because publicity the case has received in Yavapai County might hurt Ray's ability to receive a fair trial.

The media circus surrounding Ray's case, his attorneys would no doubt be publicly shocked to find out, has made its way to Phoenix -- so a change in venue wouldn't have been the solution the legal team was hoping for.

Prosecutors disagreed with the defense's claim. They say, aside from a few weeks after the incident, media coverage in Yavapai County has been minimal.

Ray's been charged with three counts of manslaughter stemming from last year's sweat-lodge event that left three people dead and dozens injured.

Check out the grizzly, vomit-filled details here.

Ray's trial was scheduled start August 31, but the date's been vacated because Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Warren Darrow had a scheduling conflict. A new date has not been set.

Tags:

arizona, james arthur ray, manslaughter, oprah, phoenix, sweat lodge, trial, yavapai county

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Janine Parker

He tried to put the 'money' in 'harmony' but he put the 'harm' instead.

Janine Parker

Have you ever watched a hypnotist at the county fair? He or she takes a few volunteers from the audience and puts them in a relaxed receptive state and then gives them suggestions. One by one they act like complete idiots and then they don't remember anything. James Ray spent days putting these retreat members in a hypnotic trance and then suggested they push past their discomfort. James Ray should be convicted of aggravated 400 degree murder.

Frank

I don't see why Mr Ray should go to prison because three idiots didn't know when they were dying and stayed in a sweat lodge

sam

JAR is a dangerous, greedy sociopath who should not be walking the streets. He should be in prison for these murders

Tamsine

Wow, in your "professional" article, you misspelled GRISLY. These unfortunate deaths were not caused by a grizzly. ("Check out the grizzly, vomit-filled details"). Seriously?

GeorgeJ

What the hell is going on with you judges? Are you determined to prove how corrupt you are? The coroner has already ruled the three deaths in Sedona as accidental. Do YOU think you know better? How are you going to represent those three who died? Can you tell if they ignored their bodies telling they were dying in order to prove how tough they were? YOU CAN'T. Obviously, YOU are NOT QUALIFIED to represent those three who died at Sedona!

http://www.google.com/search?i...

Rockhardman

Those people were adults. As adults they could have left the lodge of their own accord. This trial is bullshit led by money grubbing whores. Any judge who even wastes his time overseeing it is an idiot.