The Latest: Man convicted of murder in house explosion
Jul 14, 2015, 10:30 AM
FILE - In this July 10, 2013 file photo, Mark Leonard walks to a hearing in Indianapolis. Leonard, accused of planning a deadly 2012 home explosion that gutted an Indianapolis subdivision, faces 53 counts including charges of murder, arson, conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Here are the latest developments in the trial of a man accused of planning an Indiana house explosion that killed two people and damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes (all times EDT):
1:20 p.m.
A jury has convicted man of murder, arson and other charges for his role in a house explosion that decimated an Indianapolis subdivision nearly three years ago, killing a couple living in the neighborhood.
The jury found 46-year-old Mark Leonard guilty Tuesday of all counts against him, including murder and felony murder. Prosecutors alleged Leonard was the mastermind behind the explosion, plotting with his then-live-in girlfriend Monserrate Shirley and his half brother Bob Leonard to blow up the home for $300,000 in insurance.
Shirley accepted a plea deal and testified against her former boyfriend. Bob Leonard and two others are awaiting trial.
Defense attorney John Shircliff told jurors during closing statements that Shirley was a “master liar” and wasn’t a credible witness.
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1 p.m.
Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of a man accused of planning a fatal Indianapolis house explosion.
Court officials say the verdict will be announced Tuesday afternoon at the courthouse in South Bend in the trial of 46-year-old Mark Leonard.
Leonard faces 53 charges, including murder and arson, for the November 2012 blast that killed John “Dion” Longworth and his wife, Jennifer.
Jurors resumed deliberations Tuesday morning after meeting for about 25 minutes Monday following closing arguments.
Prosecutors say Leonard plotted with his former live-in girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, and his half-brother, Bob Leonard, to blow up the home to collect insurance money.
Defense attorney John Shircliff told jurors that Shirley is a “master liar.”
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10 a.m.
Jurors have resumed deliberations in the trial of a man accused of planning an Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes.
The jury returned Tuesday morning to the courthouse in South Bend in the trial of 46-year-old Mark Leonard.
Leonard is facing 53 charges, including murder and arson, for the November 2012 blast that killed John “Dion” Longworth and his wife, Jennifer.
Jurors deliberated for about 25 minutes Monday following closing arguments.
Prosecutors say Leonard plotted with his former live-in girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, and his half-brother, Bob Leonard, to blow up the home to collect insurance money.
Shirley is a key witness for the prosecution. But defense attorney John Shircliff told jurors that she’s a “master liar.”
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