Coroner Takes Stand In Arizona Sweat Lodge Trial

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jurors in a self-help author's manslaughter trial are expected to hear from a doctor who performed autopsies on two people who died in a sweat lodge ceremony.

Prosecutors say they'll call Robert Lyon to the stand Thursday.

He conducted autopsies on Kirby Brown and James Shore, who were pronounced dead shortly after the October 2009 ceremony near Sedona. Liz Neuman slipped into a coma and died nine days later.

James Arthur Ray led dozens of people into the heated structure as part of his "Spiritual Warrior" event. He's pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

Lyon concluded that Shore and Brown died from heat stroke.

Defense attorneys say prosecutors ignored other potential causes for their deaths, including exposure to toxins.

Prosecutors say Ray conditioned the participants to ignore signs of danger.

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