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Last updated on Tuesday, July 14, 2015
(SOUTH BEND) - The first Richmond Hill explosion trial is on its way to the jury.
Jurors will begin deliberations today after a full day of closing arguments and jury instructions on Monday.
In closing arguments, prosecutors maintain Mark Leonard was planning to blow up Monserrate Shirley's house for the insurance money almost from the moment he moved in.
They note the debris salvaged from the wrecked home was notably missing items important to the couple, and they argue there's evidence they tried to arrange the blast at least twice before finally succeeding.
Defense lawyers contend nearly all the prosecution's case is based on Shirley's testimony. They maintain Shirley lied about how the plot developed to get a better plea deal from prosecutors.
The gas explosion leveled the Richmond Hill neighborhood on Indy's southside and killed neighbors Dion and Jennifer Longworth. Leonard faces 53 criminal charges, including two murder counts carrying a potential sentence of life without parole. Shirley pleaded guilty to conspiracy but has not yet been sentenced. Three other defendants are awaiting trial, but prosecutors contend Leonard was the driving force behind the scheme.
Leonard will face a separate trial on allegations he tried to hire a hit man to kill a key witness in the arson case.
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