Jurors are set to begin deliberating in the trial of Daniel Penny, who is accused of brutally murdering a 19-year-old man in a botched burglary attempt in Queens.
After four days of testimony and two hours of jury instruction, the fate of 26-year-old Penny hangs in the balance. He is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and fourth-degree burglary in connection with the slaying of Alexander Mierda, a freshman at St. John’s University.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Penny’s botched attempt to break into Mierda’s apartment in Woodside in April 2017 resulted in the 19-year-old’s gruesome death. They presented testimony from friends and family of Mierda, who described him as a good and non-violent person.
In addition, forensic experts took the stand to testify that they found a significant amount of DNA evidence at the crime scene linking Penny to the crime.
The defense, on the other hand, claimed that Penny acted in self-defense after Mierda discovered him burglarizing his apartment and attacked him with a glass bottle.
Closing arguments took place on Thursday, and the jury has been sent home until Tuesday to begin deliberating the case.
The verdict, if found guilty, will determine Penny’s fate as the possibility of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.