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Judge selected in second Richmond Hill case

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) – A judge has been selected to preside over the second trial in the 2012 south side explosion case. Court records obtained by I-Team 8 show Allen County Judge Frances Gull was appointed to Bob Leonard’s case Friday.

Bob Leonard is accused, along with his brother Mark, Monserrate Shirley and Gary Thompson of setting the explosion at Richmond Hill in November 2012 that killed Dion and Jennifer Longworth and damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes.

Marion County Judge Sheila Carlisle agreed to move his case out of Marion County in early January after prosecutors dropped their objection to change of venue requests last year. Leonard’s half-brother Mark’s case was moved to St. Joseph County. His trial is scheduled to begin in June.

I-Team 8 first reported Leonard’s trial would move to Allen County earlier this month, though no judge was appointed at that time.

Judge Gull set an initial hearing in the case for Wednesday in Fort Wayne. A trial date could be selected at that time.

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