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Indiana Supreme Court to hear appeal in Richmond Hill explosion case

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indiana Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal in one of the Richmond Hill Explosion trials Thursday.

Mark Leonard is sentenced to two life sentences without parole for his role in the deadly 2012 explosion on the south side of Indianapolis.

The blast killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth and damaged or destroyed dozens of surrounding homes.

Leonard’s attorney said a separate case of “murder for hire” should not have been used against him in the original trial.

In April, Leonard said testimony from a jailhouse informant and undercover officer saying he tried to have a key witness killed never should have been presented at his trial. Leonard said he was set up by the informant and his attorney wasn’t present for questioning by the officer posing as a hit man.

Leonard also argued in an appeal that the state never proved he killed Dion and Jennifer Longworth in the explosion. They were neighbors of his former girlfriend.

Leonard also is appealing his two life sentences without parole on grounds they’re unconstitutional.