Court Orders New Trial for Man Convicted of Rape, Murder in Montville

A new trial has been ordered by the state Appellate Court, in a 1996 case where a 15-year-old Montville girl was raped and murdered, according to FOX61.

The body of Montville teenager April Dawn Pennington was not found. George Leniart was arrested in 2008, after he reportedly confessed to killing Pennington.

At the time, Leniart was imprisoned after raping a 13-year-old girl and reportedly confessed to inmates regarding the 1996 case. A synopsis of the case can be read on the Charley Project website, a website devoted to cold cases.

The court stated a judge excluded importance evidence from the case.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Connecticut State Police at one of the following numbers:

• 860-886-6603
• 860-848-7510
• 800-953-7747

Click here to read the full report from FOX61.

(Photos: The Charley Project)