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 The testimony by Christopher Leonard, 17, was the first public
description of last week's attack by the teenager, who was recently
released from a hospital where he was treated for blunt force
injuries to most of his body.
Leonard and his brother Lucas, 19, were beaten during a counseling
session at the Word of Life Church in Chadwicks, New York, about 50
miles (80 km) east of Syracuse, authorities said.
The alleged assault, which began late on Oct. 11 in the church's
"sanctuary room" and lasted more than 10 hours, was initiated
because Lucas Leonard wanted to leave the congregation, District
Attorney Scott McNamara said.
The teenager's testimony came during a hearing for his half-sister
Sarah Ferguson, 33, in New Hartford Town Court. He spoke quietly in
court and kept his head down while answering questions from
attorneys.
 He said the church's pastor, Tiffany Irwin, organized the counseling
session and asked the boys questions. He did not elaborate on the
nature of the questions.
Initially, the brothers answered the questions willingly but when
they began to resist, the meeting turned violent, he said.
The teenagers' parents, Bruce Leonard, 65, and Deborah Leonard, 59,
have been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of
Lucas Leonard. They are being held at Oneida County Correctional
Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Ferguson is charged with assault in the second degree in the beating
of Christopher. She is being held at Oneida County Jail in lieu of
$50,000 bail.
Parishioners Joseph Irwin, 26, Linda Morey, 54, and David Morey, 26,
are also charged with second-degree assault in connection with
Christopher Leonard's beating. They have been released after posting
$50,000 bonds.
Irwin, Ferguson, both Moreys and the teenagers' father, Bruce
Leonard, were the primary assailants, Christopher Leonard testified.
The teenager said he did not fight back during the beating, in which
a "whip" made of an electrical cord was used. Instead, he said, "I
held out my hands to stop the whip."
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The teenager was restrained at one point during the beating, he
said, without specifying whether he was tied up or held down by one
of the alleged assailants.
Near the end of the ordeal, Christopher Leonard said he was forced
to wear ear plugs, ear muffs and was placed in a corner facing away
from his brother. When he eventually turned around, he saw his
brother lying on the ground and apparently not breathing.
The teenagers were eventually loaded into two vans, he said. Lucas
Leonard was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced
dead. Christopher Leonard was also driven to the hospital by unnamed
parishioners, but the group decided at the last-minute to skip the
hospital and instead take him back to the church, he testified.
Authorities transported Christopher Leonard to the hospital after
finding the teenager on the second floor of the church during their
investigation of Lucas Leonard's death.
The defendants are scheduled to appear again in court on December
15.
Outside of the courtroom, McNamara said he was seeking a grand jury
indictment of the Leonards. He was also presenting evidence to the
panel that could result in new arrests and additional charges
against those already arrested.
(Writing by Laila Kearney; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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