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By Tom Coyne | tcoyne@wutr.tv
Published 06/29 2016
UTICA, NY
Bruce Leonard, father of the victims in the Word of Life Church beatings, took the stand against his step daughter Wednesday afternoon. His sons, Lucas and Christopher, were the victims of the beating administered at the church in Chadwicks in October, 2015. Lucas died of his injuries from that beating and Chris was seriously injured.
Bruce Leonard has pleaded guilty to assault in a plea deal worked out in exchange for his testimony. Leonard begins to recall the events of October 11, 2015. He took his family to the church on Oneida Street in Chadwicks. He said that the service began about noon and during the dinner break he and Lucas left the church to take care of a neighbor’s dog. He added that he had to get Pastor Tiffanie Irwin’s permission to leave the church.
Bruce testified that Pastor Tiffanie told him that she wanted his family to stay after the service. Leonard said that he didn’t know that a “counseling session” was about to start and he did not know the subject matter to be covered.
Leonard testified that many people came and went at the counseling session, including Linda and David Morey and Joseph Irwin. They have each been indicted by a Grand Jury in the case. He said that Pastor Tiffanie was directing the session and asking questions of Lucas Leonard. He says that Lucas wasn’t forth coming with information.
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