The police chief said the congregants so firmly kept to themselves that when a fire broke out a few years ago, they extinguished it themselves and didn’t want to let in firefighters. McNamara said he planned to seek a grand jury indictment of the Leonards as soon as possible.
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He says prosecutors are researching whether a murder charge could apply in the case. Bruce Leonard appeared stoic and wrote on a notepad as witnesses spoke to the court. All the defendants have pleaded innocent.
Christopher was hospitalized in serious condition, but his health was improving.
Bruce Leornard, left, and Deborah Leonard, center, enter a courtroom of before their arraignment, Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in New Hartford.
“I believe he was in his way coming up with a reason to tell the hospital staff why his son was there”, Police Chief Michael Inserra said at a Friday news conference.
A former Word of Life church member, who asked not to be identified, said she was a babysitter for the teenage brothers and was shocked by the beatings.
Their mother hit Lucas with a cord out of anger over “things that he had said”, investigator Todd Grant testified.
The infamous parents Bruce and Deborah Leonard attorney stated that prosecutors hadn’t proved the couple purposefully planned serious injuries to their son. Inside, officers found Christopher Leonard and transported him to a nearby hospital.
Watching through a doorway window about 10 p.m., Irwin said, he saw Bruce Leonard hit Lucas up to six times and also hit Christopher.
Irwin described panicked members of the Word of Life Christian Church saying Lucas was dead. He helped load the teen’s body into a van to send him to the hospital.
Irwin told the judge the counseling session took place after Sunday’s service, which was attended by about 30 people.
Joseph Irwin & Sarah Ferguson were in court wearing orange jumpsuits and with chains around their waists.
This case has been postponed till October 23.
Someone among them, she said, was practising witchcraft. Two are out on bail; four others, including the parents, are still in custody, according to the Associated Press.
Leonard has been a church member for eight years.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that a witness claims Lucas Leonard, 19, who was fatally beaten admitted to casting spells and said he wanted church elders to die.
Four other church members, including Sarah Ferguson, 33, a half-sister of the teenagers, have been charged with assault. David and Linda Morey were recently released on $50,000 bond a piece.
Bruce Leonard is led into the town court in New Hartford, N.Y., for…
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On Sunday night (Oct 11), toward the end of a daylong church service, Tiffanie Irwin, the pastor at Word of Life Christian Church here, turned to her congregation and made a stunning accusation. Ferguson and Irwin are scheduled to appear in court again next Friday.
