Sweat Lodge Trial Update: Judge prohibits quick not guilty verdict in manslaughter case against James Arthur Ray

(CBS/AP) CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) - An Arizona judge has denied yet another bid by attorneys for self-help guru James Arthur Ray to cut his manslaughter trial short and issue a not guilty verdict.

Ray's attorneys had asked Judge Warren Darrow for such a directed verdict in the deaths of three people who attended Ray's spiritual retreat near Sedona in October 2009.

Darrow heard arguments on the request Tuesday but did not grant it.

Ray's attorneys argued that prosecutors hadn't proved their case and that Ray had no legal duty to check on participants during the sweat lodge ceremony.

Prosecutors claimed they clearly had proved that Ray was guilty. They say Ray conditioned participants through breathing exercises, sleep deprivation, a 36-hour fast and lectures to ignore their bodies' signs of danger.

Darrow's ruling means jurors will return to hear from defense witnesses in the case.

Ray was presiding over a sweat lodge ceremony that led to the deaths of Kirby Brown, Liz Neuman and James Shore.

Ray's attorneys say he did not have a legal duty to check on participants during the ceremony, that he was unaware people could die and that participants could have left at any time. They've also devoted a lot of time to arguing that toxins could have contributed to the deaths.

"There is no evidence that Mr. Ray knew the three individuals were dying," the defense wrote in the motion for a directed verdict. "Ms. Brown, Mr. Shore and Ms. Neuman were all breathing, talking with participants around them, specifically telling others they were `OK' or `fine' and moving until the end of the ceremony."

Prosecutors called about three dozen witnesses - less than half on their list - as they argued that Ray recklessly caused the deaths.

"Usually the judge wants to wait for what the jury has to say," he said.

More than 50 people participated in the sweat lodge ceremony that was the culmination of Ray's weeklong "Spiritual Warrior" seminar he held at the Angel Valley Retreat Center.