Opening statements set for Indianapolis house explosion trial

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The final three jurors have been seated in the trial of an Indianapolis man charged in a deadly house explosion that ravaged a neighborhood.

Opening statements were scheduled Monday afternoon in the trial of Mark Leonard after the final jurors were selected. Leonard faces 53 charges, including murder, arson and conspiracy, in what prosecutors say was a plan to blow up a house to collect insurance money.

Lawyers were originally expected to seat the final two alternates Monday for the jury panel, but St. Joseph Superior Court Judge John Marnocha said a third alternate was needed because a juror seated Friday is moving to Michigan midway through the trial.

The 2012 blast killed two people and damaged or destroyed about 80 homes on the city's south side.

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