Tyler Flach murder-trial jury seated in Oceanside death of Khaseen Morris

Opening statements are set for Thursday in the murder trial of Tyler Flach, who is accused of fatally stabbing 16-year-old Oceanside High School senior Khaseen Morris in an afterschool brawl in 2019.

Jury selection that began Oct. 3 concluded Wednesday, as the last members of a panel of 12 jurors and 4 alternate jurors were seated for the Nassau County Court trial.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Howard Sturim, who is presiding in the case, said he expects the trial to last about a month.

Flach, 21, of Lido Beach, has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of murder and gang assault and misdemeanor assault and weapons charges.

His attorney, Edward Sapone, revealed Tuesday during jury selection that the defense will say Flach had a knife and stabbed Morris in a “reckless” manner — and with “no intent” — while throwing punches with the weapon in his hand.

The lawyer’s comments indicated the defense will try to make a case for second-degree manslaughter, a charge that carries a top sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.

The second-degree murder charge Flach is accused of carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life behind bars.

Prosecutors have alleged Flach is guilty of second-degree murder, saying he meant to kill Morris and intentionally stabbed him during the altercation in a Brower Avenue strip mall parking lot in Oceanside on Sept. 16, 2019.

Jurors could hear from up to about 50 witnesses, including more than a dozen law enforcement officials, along with one of Morris’ sisters and Flach’s mother, according to the witness list.

Three of the seven of Flach’s friends who also were charged with assault following the encounter could testify against him after pleading guilty in sealed court proceedings and becoming cooperating prosecution witnesses, sources previously told Newsday.

Some pre-trial arguments from the lawyers for both sides following jury selection Wednesday showed other key testimony in the case could be connected to a medical examiner’s report.

Their statements showed jurors will hear that a medical examiner’s report documented that Morris’ body had “lacerations” in addition to what authorities previously said was a single fatal stab wound to his chest.

Authorities have alleged Flach stabbed Morris after Flach and his friends charged at Morris and his friends after the groups went to the location for a prearranged fight.

Morris went there knowing the ex-boyfriend of a girl he was friendly with wanted to confront him, according to authorities. Morris’ family has said he had texted the ex-boyfriend to say he wasn’t dating the girl.