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Neulander Trial Jury Selection Continues Neulander Trial Jury Selection Continues

Robert Neulander is back in court for his retrial.

By Jared Reese

{Anchor Sasha Bull}
Our top story tonight, Doctor Robert Neulander’s retrial is underway this week regarding his alleged involvement in the death of his late wife – Leslie Neulander – who died from head trauma nearly ten years ago. In 2015, Neulander was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released in 2018 due to suspected jury misconduct.
NCC News’s Jared Reese is live on Montgomery Street near the Onondaga County Courthouse. Jared?

{Reporter Jared Reese}
I have been in the courtroom for the majority of the jury alternate selection process. Earlier today Former Doctor Robert Neulander was in the building while Judge Miller selects the final alternates in the case of Leslie Neulander’s 2012 death. Four new alternate jurors were seated on the Neulander Trial today. Opening statements were expected this afternoon, yet Judge Miller focused on finding the most unbiased jury as well as reliable alternates. Jury alternate selection started at 10 a.m. with Judge Miller asking potential alternates a string of questions.

{Anchor Anthony Tartaglione}
Because alleged jury misconduct the first time around is what granted Neulander a new trial, how are the lawyers taking more care in the selection process this time?

{Reporter Reese}
Judge Miller asked many questions of the potential jury alternates to which they raised their hand if it applied to them. Questions included asking if they have experience with head injuries, if they have ever had a family member die due to an accident, if they have ever committed or been the victim of a crime, and more. After questioning, the District Attorney told the potential jurors, “I can’t think of anything more un-American than walking into the courtroom and breaking your word.” The potential jurors were then made to promise that they would be as fair as possible.

{Anchor Bull}
And what are the next steps for these potential jurors and the trial itself going to be?

{Reporter Reese}
During the process, Judge Miller alerted the potential jurors that if they are selected to meet back at the courthouse tomorrow at 9 a.m with the courthouse opening at 8:30 am. Opening statements are expected to occur when the trial continues tomorrow with 12 jurors and 5 alternates. Judge Miller expects the trial to last three weeks.

{Anchor Tartaglione}
That was Jared Reese, reporting live from the County Courthouse updating us on the Neulander trial.

SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – Robert Neulander was in the Onondaga County Courthouse  Tuesday  while Judge Thomas Miller selected the final alternates to the jury in the case of Leslie Neulander’s 2012 death.  He seated four new alternate jurors were seated .

While opening statements were expected this afternoon, the judge focused on finding the most unbiased jury as well as reliable alternates.

Monday the judge and attorneys  they were able to select a full jury of 12 with one alternate. Today, jury alternate selection started at 10 a.m. with the judge asking potential alternates a string of questions to avoid any jury misconduct.

Onondaga County Courthouse amid Judge Miller choosing jury alternates for The Neulander Trial
Four alternate jurors were selected by Judge Miller while the public was allowed to watch from a separate room.
© 2022 Jared Reese

The judge asked many questions of the potential jury alternates to which they raised their hand if it applied to them.

Questions included asking if: they had any experience with CPR or head injuries, if they have ever had a family member die due to an accident, if they have ever committed or been the victim of a crime, and more.

“I can’t think of anything more un-American,” District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told the potential jury alternates, “than walking into the courtroom and breaking your word.”

The potential jurors were then made to promise that they would be as fair as possible.

The trial ended around 1:30 p.m. Neulander was seen leaving the courthouse at this time.

During the process, the judge alerted the potential jurors that if they are selected to meet back at the courthouse Wdnesday  at 9 a.m. with the courthouse opening at 8:30 a.m.

Opening statements are expected to occur when the trial continues Wednesday  with 12 jurors and five alternates.

The judge expects the trial to last three weeks.

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