BARRE, Vt. (AP) – The man who police claim is the mastermind of a cold-blooded drug killing that involved seven people, including three local teenagers, appeared in court Friday where his attorney told a judge his client is being framed.

Leodor Rousseau, 32, flashed a two-finger hand signal to his ex-wife and the parents of co-defendant Joshua Darling as he was led into the courtroom in handcuffs and leg irons. He was wearing baggy camouflage trousers cut off at the knees and had a winter coat hanging off his shoulders.

Vermont District Court Judge Brian Grearson ordered Rousseau and Darling, 21, both held without bail on charges they kidnapped and then killed James Saunders, 33, of Barre in May as revenge for a bad drug deal.

Rousseau and Darling appeared in court separately, pleading not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, attempted assault and robbery. The two were brought back to Vermont Thursday from North Carolina where they had moved in August.

Saunders was reported missing in May. Another one of the seven defendants in the case, Jonathan Whalley of Northfield, led police to Saunders’ body on Tuesday. It was buried in a shallow grave behind the Vershire house where Rousseau and Darling lived until August when they moved to Troy, N.C.

Rousseau’s attorney Stephen Craddock said the actual killing of Saunders was carried out by Darling.

“My client disavows any knowledge whatsoever and feels he is being framed by Mr. Whalley,” Craddock said in court.

But Washington County State’s Attorney Craig Nolan said the evidence of guilt was great. “The affidavits make crystal clear the defendant was in charge, whether he (killed) the victim is immaterial,” Nolan said.

Darling appeared in court before Rousseau. He was wearing a yellow T-shirt over a gray sweat shirt and kept his head down as was led in. He chatted briefly with his attorney Jon Valsangiacomo.

Both defense attorneys asked a judge to allow the defendants to post bail.

Nolan objected. “This was a brutal beating; a drug-trade killing,” Nolan said.

When police searched the North Carolina home where the two had been living they found a number of weapons and a large quantity of marijuana, Nolan said.

So far a total of seven people have been charged in connection with the killing of Saunders.

Aaron Bassett, 28, formerly of Enfield, N.H., was arrested in Florida on Wednesday where he is awaiting extradition back to Vermont. Whalley is facing charges of being an accessory after the fact.

Three Barre teenagers are being charged for their role in kidnapping Saunders. Melinda Pike, 17, is being held for lack of bail. Nathaniel Masi, 15, and Shawn Fordham, 14, who are being charged as adults, were released into the custody of their parents.

The court appearance offer some additional background to the two suspects. Both Rousseau and Darling were born in Lebanon, N.H. and lived most of their lives in the upper Connecticut River valley and both have family in the area.

Rousseau’s ex-wife, who was in court Friday agreed to be responsible for him if he were to be released on bail. Rousseau mouthed “I love you” as he was led out of court.

Neither Rousseau’s ex-wife, nor Darling’s parents, who were referred to by attorneys in court but not identified by name, spoke to reporters after the hearing.

Court documents filed in the case say that Rousseau was a local drug dealer seeking revenge against Saunders who had robbed Whalley of cocaine in May.

Rousseau allegedly paid the three teenagers $500 to lure Saunders into his car. Once in the car, Saunders was beaten and taken to Vershire where he was buried.

The documents say Saunders was still alive when they arrived in Vershire but that he was dead when he was placed in the grave because he didn’t move after an unidentified blond boy threw a “giant rock” onto his head.

Police involved in the case are shocked at the youth of some of the defendants.

The court documents said that after Rousseau and Darling returned to Vershire with Saunders in their car, children who were in the house came out to clean it. One of those children allegedly used a knife or scissors to cut the clothes off Saunders.

Vermont State Police Capt. Timothy Bombardier said Friday he didn’t know if additional children were involved in the killing of Saunders but detectives were continuing to piece together the details of the crime.

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