Kyle Rittenhouse, a trial consultant assisting in Daniel Penney’s jury selection

Jury consultant who assisted in the selection of the jury in Kyle RittenhouseThe court is currently working with Daniel Penney’s defense team.

PennyThe 25-year-old former Marine is charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He is accused of strangling and killing 30-year-old Jordan Neely on a New York subway in 2023. Neely, famous According to reports, a Michael Jackson impersonator got on the subway and started threatening people. Penny allegedly approached him from behind and choked him.

Neely was later pronounced dead in the hospital His death was ruled a homicide due to neck compression.

Senior jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius has been seen with Penny’s legal team every day since October 21, when jury selection started

Daniel Penny Jordan Neely — Daniel Penney’s legal team is working with a jury consultant with years of experience, including the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Penny is accused of strangling and killing Jordan Neely on the New York subway.

AP Photo/John Minchillo and photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Dimitrius has worked as a jury consultant for decades and helped select juries for the trials of OJ Simpson, Rodney King and Kobe Bryant. She also helped pick the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

In 2021, Rittenhouse was acquitted of first-degree murder and several other charges related to the fatal shooting of two Black Lives Matter protesters in Wisconsin.

Kyle Rittenhouse reflects as attorneys discuss points of a motion to dismiss filed by his defense at the Kenosha County, Wis., courthouse, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.

AP photo

Neely’s family joined members of Black Lives Matter in New York City to oppose Dimetrius’ participation in jury selection.

“I’m not going to sit here and play deaf and dumb and blind and act like I don’t know why they hired this person to come and represent Daniel Penny,” Christian Neely, Jordan’s uncle, said at the protest. “All I can say is that I believe in the prosecution. I believe in New York.

Eight jurors have been selected so far. Before the opening speeches, a panel of 12 jury members and four deputies will be selected.

Penny faces five to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and up to four years on the negligent homicide charge if convicted.

Who is Jordan Neely?

Neely often performed as a Michael Jackson impersonator in Times Square, on the subway, and in subway stations.

He began to struggle with his mental health after his mother was murdered. At that time Neela was 14 years old.

Neely also struggled with homelessness and drug use.

His funeral in 2023 was attended by family, friends, elected officials and others who wished to honor Neely. Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy.