UTICA, N.Y. - Word of Life defendant Sarah Ferguson’s murder trial continues Wednesday with testimony from forensic computer experts, the doctor who examined Christopher Leonard in the ER, and Bruce Leonard. 

Several are on trial for murder and other charges in the beating death of a Chadwicks teen and the assault of his brother, inside the Word of Life church in Chadwicks last fall. Sarah Ferguson's trial is this week - she is the half-sister of the victims, 19-year-old Lucas Leonard, who died, and his 17-year-old brother, Christopher, who survived.

Eight months ago the two were savagely beaten inside the church on Oneida St. in Chadwicks, where they lived with their family. 

The first witness for the prosecution was a New York State investigator at the computer forensics lab who talked about extracting data, including deleted content, from Bruce Leonard's cell phone, on December 3, 2015. He said there were more than 40,000 texts on the phone.

The defense objected to testimony about the contents of the phone, but that was overruled. There was no cross examination.

The next witness to take the stand was a New York State investigator, who said that, when they receive a cell phone for analysis, they place it in a special box where it has no connection with cell towers. Some deleted content was extracted from the phone, but that content was not revealed. 

The next witness was Dr. Leo Sullivan, the Director of Trauma, who treated Christopher Leonard at the ER. The doctor said Christopher was “very bruised, tender just about everywhere they tried to touch him” and that he had some deep bruising.

Courtroom photos showed significant swelling to Christopher’s nose, and bruising to Christopher’s arm the doctor calls a defensive injury. The photos also showed bruising, broken skin, and scabs on Christopher’s back. He said there was “severe black and blue from blunt force trauma” to Christopher’s thighs and genital area.He also noted extensive bruising to Christopher’s right palm, which would have been extremely unusual, as much “force, repetition is required to bruise a palm.”

He said Christopher also had air outside his lungs and under his skin and kidney damage, and that he could have had brain damage if the air traveled to his brain. He even had 50% kidney failure as a result of the injuries, and was in the ICU for the first two days in the hospital. He added that a boxer would have to go 110 rounds, not 10 rounds, to suffer the kind of trauma Christopher Leonard did, and that the teen would have died in five to ten days, had his injuries gone untreated.

The prosecution finished with direction examination of the doctor, and the defense began cross-examining. The doctor said that Christopher was “tight-lipped” at the hospital and would only answer medical questions.

The next witness to take the stand was the New Hartford lead investigator to the case, who said Bruce Leonard’s phone called 411 the morning after the assaults. The prosecutor said, “Not 911?” Bruce’s phone called 411 at 6:03, 6:10 and 6:13 a.m. and also called home school soccer league members. The phone then called 411 again at 12:14 p.m. Lucas Leonard was brought to the hospital at 12:22 p.m.

The investigator also noted the heights and weights of Joseph Irwin, 6’4”, 275 pounds, David Irwin, 6’3”, 300 pounds, and David Morey, 6’2”, 220 pounds.

Neither NYSP nor the FBI could retrieve video from an SD recovered. 

The prosecutor asked the investigator if he ever made a report of child abuse in this case. The defense objected, which was sustained, but the investigator had already said no.

After a lunch break, a doctor who works with the Child Advocacy Center testified about whether or not there were physical manifestations of physical or sexual abuse in various Word of Life children. On October 13, 2015, the doctor was asked to examine six children. The doctor found no signs of trauma or sexual abuse on Grace Leonard, but also noted that sexual abuse doesn’t necessarily leave signs. The doctor also examined a 12-year-old male, who did not show overt signs of sexual abuse. The doctor noted that, again, sexual abuse signs not always present. The doctor then examined a seven-year-old boy who had bruising on the back of his upper leg and thigh, which was unusual placement for bruising on a kid. No signs of trauma or abuse were found on a three-year-old boy or two-year-old girl she examined.

Defendant Sarah Ferguson was crying throughout the testimony as Bruce Leonard, the victims' father who is also charged in the crimines, took the stand as the next witness. Bruce said he never caught Christopher or Lucas Leonard engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a certain family child. He said that Pastor Tiffanie brought up molestation during the counseling session.

The prosecutor asked Bruce if he ever told Joe Irwin to punch Christopher. Bruce’s response: “I don’t know…no, I didn’t.” He says Linda Morey slapped Christopher, not punched, which made his nose bleed. He said Pastor Tiffanie then directed both boys to stand when they fell. The counseling session then turning into a whipping, flogging.

Bruce admitted he whipped Luke, he guesses 20 times on the back, and also his son Christopher. He said Lucas didn’t try to defend himself. When asked why he was whipping the boys, Bruce responded: “So they would understand the hurt they caused. Discipline for punishment.” “Blows that hurt, drive off evil” is the Biblical verse Bruce cited as applicable for the beating. He started crying on the witness stand, saying his response was an over-reaction to admissions the boys made.

He said Sarah Ferguson hit the boys multiple times, but fewer times than he did.  Bruce said that Lucas was crying out in pain as Sarah beat him. He was trying to turn away and fell to the ground.

Bruce fought back to tears on the stand, saying “I was letting it happen” and that his wife, Deborah, was crying during the session. He said it got “too big, too crazy.” He said “we have to stop” when they saw Lucas was bleeding from his groin.

He admitted they were not taken to the hospital and were kept separated to be spoken to separately. The boys were continued to be asked questions by Bruce and Pastor Tiffanie. Bruce said “not all the pieces fit [of the boys’ stories]. There were more things said than what seemed possible to have occurred.”

Around noon the day after the beatings, Bruce Leonard said he became aware something was wrong. He said Lucas was lying on his back on a tarp in the big sanctuary. When he learned Lucas wasn't breathing, they shook him, did CPR, but he barely responded. 

Bruce began crying on the stand, saying he was a member of the Word of Life church for twenty years. He outlined the requirements of being a church member: a consitution, list of beliefs, Biblical standards and tithing. 

Bruce said that on August 9, 2015, Lucas went to another church - and that this may have been mentioned in the October 11 counseling session. When asked if his sons were taught to submit to the authority of the pastor, Bruce said yes. When asked if Pastor Tiffanie is a prophet, Bruce said "She often hears from God."

Court concluded and more witnesses are expected in court on Thursday.