A neighbour of an Alabama woman accused of making her granddaughter run until she died says the girl was crying and begging to stop before she collapsed.

Jolie Jacobs was giving evidence in the capital murder trial of 49-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard. Prosecutors say Garrard ran nine-year-old Savannah Hardin to death as punishment for a lie three years ago.

Ms Jacobs lived across the street from the girl's home at the time. She said she saw Savannah running and carrying wood as Garrard yelled at her.

Ms Jacobs said she had decided to intervene, but an ambulance arrived. The girl died in a hospital three days later.

The defence denies that Garrard meant to harm the child.