UTICA, N.Y. -- The surviving Word of Life Church beating victim, Christopher Leonard, took the stand Monday in Oneida County Court and admitted to touching his half-sister’s children inappropriately.
Sarah Ferguson, the boys’ half-sister, is charged with depraved indifference murder for the death of another half-brother, Lucas Leonard, who was allegedly beaten at the same time last year as Christopher.
Leonard began his testimony by talking about the living arrangements at his home in Clayville. His sister, Sarah Ferguson, stayed in the attic with her children.
Leonard said he went to Word of Life Church his entire life, and his entire family attended, although some of his siblings have left. He said he and his family went to church once or twice a week.
The teen said he remembers Pastor Tiffanie Irwin asking Lucas about his desire to leave the church. And when asked if he was required to submit to the pastor’s authority, he replied, “yes.”
Leonard explained discipline at the church included prohibition from speaking with others at the church during services. He, his brother Lucas and his mother were all put on church discipline at some point, he testified.
The day of the beatings, Leonard said, once service was over, Irwin told everyone else they could leave, but the Leonard family had to stay. The Morey family and the Irwins also stayed in the sanctuary.
Iriwn told Lucas to stand up, according to Leonard’s testimony, and he was asked questions about witchcraft and creating a voodoo doll.
Leonard said brother was also accused of touching people inappropriately, specifically young children. He also said he was being questioned about the same thing, along with being asked if, when and where he watched pornography.
Upon refusal of answering a question, Joe Irwin counted to three, and then punched him in the stomach, he testified.
"I'm pretty sure the next thing that happened to me was Mrs. Morey punched me in the nose,” he testified.
The boys were accused of touching their nieces and nephews inappropriately. Leonard said he was then hit with a cord, adding his father, Bruce Leonard, hit in first on his back and chest.
Bruce Leonard accepted a plea deal last week and gave a full allocution of his role in the alleged beatings.
Christopher Leonard said he was screaming and crying in pain, and his father was beating Lucas with a cord – but Lucas wasn’t saying anything.
Sarah Ferguson hit Christopher and his brother Lucas with the cord next, Leonard testified, saying she hit him everywhere, including his genital areas. He said Ferguson hit him the most with the cord. She was the only one who hit him in the genital area.
Then Leonard’s mother began to hit him with the cord, saying she hit him on the back.
He says he fell down. If he couldn't get up, Joe Irwin or David Morey would force him to stand and the "whipping would continue.”
After the whipping stopped, he was moved to the large sanctuary and wasn't punched or kicked again, according to his testimony. At that time, Leonard said he was told to wear ear plugs and headphones. He testified he didn't know why and he didn't know where Lucas was.
Leonard said David Morey told him and Lucas to clean up the blood and gave them a cleaning solution.
He was having a difficult time standing up and staying awake, Leonard said, adding he didn't even try to sit down. Leonard was brought back to the church’s larger large sanctuary and said Lucas was on the ground. Christopher says Joe Irwin and David Morey moved Lucas onto a tarp so he wouldn't bleed on the ground. Lucas was groaning and in pain.
He testified he never saw anyone give Lucas water, ice or help him stop bleeding.
The prosecution showed photos of both teens and their injuries to the court. The photos showed bruises on Lucas' upper body, arms and back. There were far more injuries to his back.
Leonard said he heard Irwin call for his parents. He looked and saw Lucas wasn't moving anymore and a crowd was around him. Leonard says he was blowing into Lucas' lungs while another church member was giving him chest compressions.
He says his parents were debating whether to call an ambulance or bring him to the hospital themselves. They put Lucas in their van at that point, according to Christopher.
Leonard said when police later arrived at the church, he was moved to the learning center. Leonard testified David Morey brought him food and water. He said he was in a lot of pain and was having trouble breathing.
Police later took photos of Leonard’s body before bringing him to the hospital, where he stayed for a week, he testified.
He said that during the counseling session he admitted to things he didn't do, because he wanted them to stop. Leonard says he also admitted to things he did do, saying he doesn't know about Lucas.
Rebecca Whittman, Ferguson’s defense attorney, asked Leonard if his younger sister moved into the attic with Ferguson because she was being abused. He replied “he heard that.”
Leonard testified Monday he touched his nieces and nephews inappropriately, and then went into detail while he was being beaten.
Leonard said he doesn't know what Lucas did or didn't do, but he was making similar admissions during the counseling session. He said Lucas was saying things regarding Ferguson's children and other children in the church.
He pleaded for Ferguson to stop, and that he doesn't know why the beating stopped, he testified. He said at one point, his father opened the front of his pants to check his and Lucas' injuries.
Leonard testified that no one in the church tried to stop the beating and that it felt like it lasted hours.
After Leonard, officer Anne Marie Brelinski of the New Hartford Police Department took the stand. She was tasked to collect clothing from Sarah Ferguson. Brelinksi said she noticed redness on Ferguson's hands on her knuckles.
A total of 13 stipulations were read in the courtroom, some of which allow items and photos into evidence that were then shown to the judge.