Indiana News

Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Indiana Home Explosion Trial

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ An attorney for a man accused of planning a deadly 2012 home explosion that gutted an Indianapolis subdivision has told jurors most of the state's case rests on the testimony of his former live-in girlfriend, whom he described as not credible.

Jurors got the case Monday following closing arguments.

Defense attorney John Shircliff described defendant Mark Leonard's former girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, as a master liar and manipulator. Shircliff told jurors the case isn't about what makes sense in their minds but what prosecutors have been able to prove against Leonard, who faces murder, arson and conspiracy charges.

Shircliff tried to portray Shirley as the main plotter, but Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson argued the evidence shows it was Leonard. She says the defense has admitted that Leonard wanted a small fire.

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