Opening Statement
March 1, 2011 (PM)
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Arizona v. James Ray (Camp Verde, Arizona). Oprah Winfrey-endorsed motivational speaker and self help guru James Ray went to trial last week on manslaughter charges, after three people died of heat stroke during a spiritual vision ceremony in a sauna-like tent called a sweat lodge. Over the objections of Ray's attorneys from Munger Tolles and Olson, the trial began with the prosecution playing audio recordings for the jury of a pep talk given by Ray to the victims just prior to the fatal "Spiritual Warrior" ceremony, where he encouraged participants to face their own death by enduring the extreme conditions. CVN is webcasting the Arizona v. James Ray trial gavel-to-gavel. |
