A Palmdale, California man is facing a judge’s decision in a jury trial for negligent homicide charges.
Daniel Penny, 51, is accused of killing 19-year-old Aurora Rodriguez in a traffic collision in 2020. The accident occurred on the intersection of 10th Street and A Streets in Palmdale.
Prosecutors have been working to prove that Penny was driving recklessly and accelerated to 5o miles per hour in a 25-mph zone before striking Rodriguez, who was crossing the street. Penny’s defense team, meanwhile, claims that he was not at fault and that Rodriguez failed to follow traffic rules, including not using a crosswalk.
The judge will now instruct the jury on the law and the facts, and the six women and six men on the panel will have the task of determining whether Penny committed the crime.
The judge has the authority to render a verdict after hearing the jury’s decision, and if convicted, Penny could face a maximum sentence of four years in prison. The victim’s family has been in attendance throughout the trial and has expressed their frustration and grief over the loss of their loved one.
The jury’s deliberations are expected to take several days, and a verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
