Mr. Penny faces manslaughter charges for causing the death of Jordan Neely in a subway altercation in May 2023. The incident, where Mr. Penny put Neely in a chokehold, was captured on video and went viral online.
The trial of Daniel Penny, a former Marine charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man, is set to begin with opening statements on Friday. The incident, which occurred on a subway car in Manhattan on May 1, 2023, gained widespread attention after a video of the altercation surfaced online.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Penny put Mr. Neely in a chokehold for nearly six minutes, leading to his death. Mr. Penny claims he intervened to restrain Mr. Neely, who was threatening passengers on the train. However, prosecutors argue that Mr. Penny’s actions crossed the line into criminal behavior when he continued to hold Mr. Neely in a chokehold even after he had gone limp and the train doors had opened.
The trial will involve presenting evidence and witness testimony to the jury, who will ultimately decide Mr. Penny’s fate. The proceedings are expected to last several weeks, with the trial anticipated to continue through Thanksgiving.
The case has sparked debate over the use of force in self-defense and the responsibility of individuals to intervene in potentially dangerous situations. As the trial unfolds, both the prosecution and defense will have the opportunity to present their arguments and evidence to the court, with the goal of seeking justice for the victim and determining the culpability of the accused.
Source: The NY Times
