Jurors Begin Deliberations in Trial of Marine Vet Accused of Recklessly Choking Man on NYC Subway
Jurors in the trial of Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, have begun deliberations on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, on a Manhattan subway train. Penny is accused of recklessly choking Neely, who was high on K2 and had a severe case of paranoid schizophrenia, after Neely boarded the train and made death threats.
Prosecutors allege that Penny acted with reckless disregard for human life when he grabbed Neely from behind in a headlock and held him to the ground with the help of another passenger. The City Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Neely’s death a homicide by asphyxiation, while a defense expert, Dr. Satish Chundru, attributed the cause of death to a combination of Neely’s drug use, a genetic condition, physical exertion, and his severe mental illness.
The defense has argued that Penny acted in self-defense and that the force he used was reasonable under the circumstances. If convicted, Penny faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Jurors will have to weigh the evidence and decide whether Penny’s actions were justified or if he is guilty of recklessly causing Neely’s death.
As the jurors deliberated, a group of protesters outside the courthouse chanted “Guilty!” through a megaphone. In response, Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Dafna Yoran addressed the protesters, saying that the defense was trying to “belittle the importance of the victim’s life” and downplay the grave injuries Neely sustained during the incident. Penny’s defense team has raised over $3.2 million in donations, with many continuing to contribute in solidarity with their cause.