The Latest: Jury sequestered in Indianapolis explosion trial
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - The Latest on the Indianapolis House Explosion trial of Bob Leonard (all times local):
5:45 p.m.
A northern Indiana jury has deliberated for more than an hour in the trial of a man charged with murder, arson and insurance fraud in a 2012 house explosion in Indianapolis that killed a couple and damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes in a neighborhood.
The jury in Fort Wayne ended deliberations shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday and is scheduled to resume work on Wednesday. The jury will be sequestered in a hotel for the night.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday the explosion was no accident, while defense attorney Ted Minch argued prosecutors failed to prove his client was involved despite the testimony of 150 witnesses.
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4:20 p.m.
A northern Indiana jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a man charged with murder, arson and insurance fraud in a 2012 house explosion that killed a couple and devastated an Indianapolis neighborhood.
The jury in Fort Wayne began deliberating the fate of 57-year-old Bob Leonard of Indianapolis late Tuesday afternoon after hearing closing arguments.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth told jurors the explosion was no accident, while defense attorney Ted Minch argued prosecutors failed to prove his client was involved despite the testimony of 150 witnesses.
Minch spent much of his two-hour presentation trying to discredit the testimony of Monserrate Shirley, the girlfriend of Leonard's half brother and owner of the house that exploded. Minch says Shirley had the motivation to commit the crime because of financial problems.
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2:30 p.m.
An attorney for an Indianapolis man charged with murder, arson and insurance fraud in a 2012 house explosion that killed a couple and devastated a subdivision told jurors that prosecutors failed to prove his client was involved.
Attorney Ted Minch told jurors Tuesday there was no evidence placing Bob Leonard in the subdivision on the day of the explosion. He also says prosecutors failed to prove what the ignition source was in the explosion that killed two people and damaged or destroyed 80 homes.
Minch also questioned the testimony of Monserrate Shirley, the former girlfriend of Leonard's half brother, Mark Leonard. He says she was the one with the motivation to blow up her house.
Prosecutors have an hour for rebuttal before the case is goes to the jury.
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12:25 p.m.
Closing arguments have begun in the trial of an Indianapolis man charged with murder, arson and insurance fraud in a 2012 house explosion that killed a couple and devastated a subdivision more than three years ago.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth told jurors on Tuesday that testimony, surveillance video and DNA evidence prove that 57-year-old Bob Leonard was involved in the plot with his half brother, Mark Leonard, to blow up an Indianapolis home for $300,000 in insurance.
Defense attorneys also will present closing arguments.
Allen Superior Judge Frances Gull instructed jurors earlier Tuesday on the 51 counts Leonard is facing. He is charged with being involved in filling an Indianapolis home with natural gas, leading to an explosion that killed two people and destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes.
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4 a.m.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are set to make closing arguments in the trial of a man charged with helping plot a massive Indianapolis house explosion that killed two people and destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes.
The Allen County jury is expected to begin deliberations Tuesday on whether Bob Leonard is guilty of murder and other charges in connection with the November 2012 blast.
Prosecutors allege Leonard took part in a plot to collect $300,000 in insurance by causing a natural gas explosion in the house of his half brother's then-girlfriend.
Leonard didn't take the witness stand as the defense spent about a half hour presenting testimony Friday following 16 days of prosecution witnesses.
Leonard's half brother, Mark Leonard, is serving two life sentences after being convicted in July.