An Alabama woman who allegedly forced a girl to run for more than three hours carrying firewood as punishment until she died has been charged with capital murder.

Authorities say Joyce Garrard made 9-year-old Savannah Hardin to run as punishment for telling a lie about eating candy on the school bus, and Garrard now faces either the death penalty or life without parole should she be convicted, according to an Associated Press report.

During opening statements in the courtroom, assistant district attorney Marcus Reid promised to reveal neighbors who could testify against Garrard by describing what they saw the day the girl died, while defense attorney Dani Bone tried to suggest that medical evidence indicated the girl did not die of dehydration, but actually appeared overhydrated, adding that the prosecution has “oversold their case.”

Prosecutors allege that neighbors witnessed Garrard acting like a drill instructor to the girl, forcing her to continue running and carry firewood and sticks for two hours. A neighbor said they were both in the yard and Garrard was yelling at Savannah to “keep running.”

The neighbor said he eventually became concerns when the girl was on all fours and vomiting, and Garrard was pouring water onto her. Paramedics were on the scene shortly after, but it was too late to save the girl. Garrard told the medics that Savannah, whose body was cold and soaking wet, had collapsed while in the yard.

Reid said that Savannah had been banned from eating candy due to her medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it was the lie that set Garrard off, according to the report. Garrard apparently told the school bus driver, who had told her about the fact that Savannah had eaten candy, that she was going to “run until I tell her to stop,” according to surveillance video shown in the court as reported by the AP.