Sarah Ferguson, who was convicted on multiple counts in relation to the Word of Life beating that left one dead, appealed her sentence in court today.

Ferguson was accused of taking part in the beatings, which killed her half-brother Lucas Leonard and seriously injured his brother, Christopher. In July 2016, she was found guilty on manslaughter and assault charges, but not guilty on the most serious charge of second-degree murder, in the first Word of Life-related trial.

MORE WORD OF LIFE COVERAGE

Sarah Ferguson brought her case to the Appellate Court in Rochester on Wednesday. 

Ferguson was sentenced to 25 years in prison, a sentence she wants reduced. 

"She did indicate she had remorse both at sentencing to the pre-sentence report. She wished she had called 911," said Ferguson's attorney Peter DiGiorgio.

Ferguson's attorney questioned her intent during the beating, while acknowledging her actions were reckless. Her attorney said Ferguson did not intend to cause serious physical injury to Leonard.

 

"I would argue that that excessive whipping was more of a reckless act that led to the death as opposed to had she cut his finger off, I would say that's intent to cause serious physical injury," DiGiorgio said.

 

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara disagrees. He said Ferguson did intend to cause serious physical injury.

 

"It has always been our position, what she was trying to do was basically, in a way, is to castrate them, to cause them not to be able to function in a sexual manner," McNamara said. "That was her intent. That is serious physical injury. She did that. She killed one of her brothers."

 

McNamara wanted a harsher sentence.

 

"I don't agree with his verdict. I think this is a murder second," he said.

 

He also believes current the sentence was more than fair so he does not want it lessened.

The Oneida County District Attorney said the Appellate Court usually makes a decision in one to two months.