Mistrial Refused in Author's Manslaughter Trial

Carlsbad man has pleaded not guilty in 3 deaths

A Carlsbad self-help author's manslaughter trial will continue Thursday after a judge refused to declare a mistrial despite finding that prosecutors broke a disclosure rule when they failed to give documents to the defense.

Attorneys for James Arthur Ray argued for the mistrial at a hearing Wednesday in Camp Verde. They said the prosecution's yearlong failure to disclose an email from an environmental scientist meant they couldn't adequately prepare a defense.

Ray has pleaded not guilty in the deaths of three people following a 2009 sweat lodge ceremony he led near Sedona.

Prosecutors say they inadvertently failed to disclose the email from Richard Haddow, who looked at environmental conditions surrounding the ceremony. They argued an appropriate remedy would be to allow the defense to interview Haddow and gather its own witnesses if it chooses.

Yavapai County Judge Warren Darrow found prosecutors did violate legal rules, but he determined a mistrial wasn't warranted.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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