SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – A judge is set to consider whether an Indianapolis man should be eligible for a life without parole prison sentence after a jury convicted him of murder, arson and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud in a home explosion that gutted a subdivision and killed two neighbors.
St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge John Marnocha will hear arguments Wednesday, a day after a jury convicted Mark Leonard, 46, of 53 counts after deliberating less than four hours over two days.
Leonard waived his right to have the jury decide whether to recommend the sentence of life without parole on the two counts of murder in the deaths of John “Dion” Longworth and his wife, Jennifer.
Defense attorneys said they filed a motion to have a sentence of life without parole dismissed because they don’t believe prosecutors have proven the necessary aggravating factors. Defense attorney John Shircliff said he would argue there’s no “legal basis” for the judge to impose the harshest penalty prosecutors were seeking.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said he believes Leonard will spend the rest of his life in prison no matter how Marnocha rules.