Defendants rest in alleged Md. cult case

Update, 4:25 p.m.: Three people representing themselves in their trial in the starving death of a 1-year-old boy have rested their cases without calling any witnesses.

Queen Antoinette is accused of ordering that toddler Javon Thompson not be fed because he did not say “Amen” during a mealtime prayer. Her daughter, Trevia Williams, and Marcus Cobbs are accused of helping her carry out the order.

Antoinette introduced a single piece of evidence in her defense: an application for federal nonprofit status for an entity called 1 Mind Ministries. Williams and Cobbs did not introduce any evidence.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday.

Original post: Prosecutors have rested their case in the trial of three people accused of starving a 1-year-old boy to death while part of a religious cult.

The three defendants, who are representing themselves, will have the opportunity to present evidence Monday afternoon. But it's not clear what they'll do.

Queen Antoinette is accused of ordering that toddler Javon Thompson not be fed because he did not say “Amen” during a mealtime prayer. Her daughter, Trevia Williams, and Marcus Cobbs are accused of helping her carry out the order.

Jurors heard testimony Monday from a DNA expert and a medical examiner who conducted an autopsy on Javon. The medical examiner said Javon's body was mummified when he examined it. He determined that Javon was a homicide victim but could not determine the manner of death.

This post has been updated since it was first published.

-- Associated Press