OREGON CITY, Ore. - Both parents on trial in the death of their 15-month-old daughter took the stand on Friday and defended their decision to treat her with prayer instead of doctors.

Carl Brent Worthington and his wife, Raylene, face manslaughter and criminal mistreatment charges in the 2008 death of their 15-month-old daughter, Ava. 

The Worthingtons are members of the Followers of Christ Church, whose members shun doctors in favor of spiritual healing. They are charged under Oregon's 10-year-old faith healing law because they prayed for their daughter instead of getting her medical attention.  In essence, the law prohibits reliance on faith healing when a child's life is at risk.

On Friday, Carl Worthington testified that he and about 200 followers were at his home the day Ava died and that they all thought his daughter was getting better from what appeared to be a common cold, until they heard wails coming from his bedroom.  

"I ran back into the bedroom and she had stopped breathing," he testified.

Under cross examination, he stood by his statements.

Carl Worthington: "She was getting better from what we were doing, so I don't know why I would do it different when I see her improving from us laying hands on her and practicing what we believe."

Prosecutor: "Well, but it didn't get better, did it Mr. Worthington?"

Carl Worthington: "It did get better."

Prosecutor: "Well, it didn't get better at 7:20 on Sunday night."

Carl Worthington: "She did pass away.  Yes she did."

Carl Worthington and a descendant of the church's founder also testified that it is common practice for church members to use doctors and those who do are not shunned.  Both statements directly contradict what current and former church members have told KATU News over the past year and a half.

Raylene Worthington took the stand as well and also testified that her daughter seemed to be very healthy and was just mildly sick when she died.  Not the girl who was choking and having difficulty breathing, which her husband described to investigators shortly after the girl passed away, but more like the toddler who looked and acted a lot like she did just weeks earlier when the family videotaped their daughter taking some of her first steps. WATCH THE VIDEO

Prosecutor: "Did you feel like Ava was skinny and wasting away?"

Raylene Worthington: "No."

Prosecutor: "Did you have any concerns about her weight?"

Raylene Worthington: "No."

Carl Worthington's testimony was similar.

Prosecutor: "Did anyone ever suggest that she wasn't eating right?"

Carl Worthington: "No. Nobody ever did."

Prosecutor: "Did anyone ever suggest she wasn't growing right?"

Carl Worthington: "No. I never heard that."

Prosecutor: "Anyone ever suggest she wasn't active enough or playful enough?"

Carl Worthington: "No."

Carl Worthington did testify late in the day that he may have overstated the seriousness of his daughter's illness to investigators because he was so tired and distraught at the time.  At one point, Carl Worthington's attorney indicated that investigators lied.  The judge cleared the courtroom and scolded the attorney, saying he had violated the basic rules of courtroom behavior.