The pastor and three members of a small Christian sect in New York have pleaded guilty to beating a teenage boy to death and injuring his brother.
The two teenagers were beaten for 14 hours through the night in October last year in an attempt to persuade them not to leave the Word of Life Christian Church.
Pastor Tiffanie Irwin pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault. Her brother Joseph Irwin pleaded guilty to assault. Linda Morey and her son David, both church members, also pleaded guilty to assault
A total of nine people have now been charged and convicted for the death of Lucas Leonard, 19, and assault of Christopher Leonard, 17, who survived the "counselling session" with injuries, according to the Mail. When Lucas was taken to hospital by church members, medical staff thought he had been shot.
Scott McNamara, Oneida County District Attorney, said the case was a tragedy. "I can only hope that Luke can rest in peace, Chris can get on with his life."
Christopher Leonard described at an earlier hearing how he and his brother where repeatedly beaten with an electrical cord for "sins" including the use of a voodoo doll.
He also confessed to "inappropriately" touching his half-sister's children when he testified in the trial of Sarah Ferguson, among those who were charged in connection with the death of his brother. Ferguson found out about the touching during the beating session.
A videoed testimony of Grace Leonard, the boys' 16-year-old sister, showed her telling the court yesterday that her brothers had touched her inappropriately.
Earlier the teens' father, Bruce Leonard, pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree assault. Their mother, Deborah Leonard, pleaded guilty in December to assault charges.
