Faith healing trial: Testimony about Ava Worthington will stay

OREGON CITY, Ore. - Wednesday marked day two of the trial against two parents accused in the faith healing death of their 16-year-old son and the couple's defense attorneys tried unsuccessfully to get information about a previous case excluded from testimony.

Jeff and Marci Beagley, who are members of the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, are charged with criminally negligent homicide after their son, Neil, died in 2008 of complications from a congenital urinary tract blockage he had since birth. Doctors said that blockage could have been corrected and treated.

Members of the Followers of Christ Church believe in prayer over modern medicine and several children's deaths in recent years have prompted concern about whether the church members are being negligent in choosing prayer over a doctor's care.

Last year, church members Carl and Raylene Worthington went on trial in connection with the death of their 15-month-old daughter, Ava, who died in March of 2008 of a treatable medical condition. Both were acquitted of manslaughter but Carl Worthington was convicted of criminal mistreatment and sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation. He recently filed an appeal.

On Wednesday, attorneys for the Beagleys asked a judge to keep out information about the death of Ava Worthington. The child is the granddaughter of Jeff and Marci Beagley and both were present when she passed away.

The prosecution has several witnesses lined up to testify about that case but defense attorneys asked the judge to make information about Ava Worthington inadmissible, arguing that the prosecution is trying to prove this is a pattern with Followers of Christ church members.

In the end, the judge ruled that the information and testimony about Ava Worthington is relevant and will not be excluded.

The trial could continue through next week.