A jury is seated in the first Weston prayer death trial. Attorneys picked the jury of seven women and seven men from Marathon County to decide Leilani Neumann's fate.
All 14 jurors will hear the case and remain sequestered for the weeklong trial though only 12 will actually determine whether Neumann is innocent or guilty of choosing prayer over medicine as her 11-year-old daughter Madeline Kara died from diabetes last Easter.
Both sides will deliver their opening statements Saturday morning. Prosecutors are expected to argue that Leilani Neumann had a legal duty to seek medical help as the critically ill girl lay dying of diabetes. The defense will likely counter that prayer is a proper form of treatment and that nothing in the law requires them to seek medical help.
Judge Vincent Howard will rule Saturday on whether the defense can call a Texas faith healer as an expert witness. The first witnesses will be called on Monday.
