Daniel Penny jurors begin deliberations in Jordan Neely subway chokehold trial
The jury has commenced their deliberations in the case of Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran facing manslaughter charges for allegedly choking out Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man who caused a disturbance on a Manhattan subway car. Penny, accompanied by his defense attorneys, remained composed as he arrived at the Manhattan courthouse amidst chants of “Guilty!” from protesters outside.
Inside the courtroom, Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Dafna Yoran concluded her closing arguments before the judge provided instructions to the jury. Penny faces a potential 15-year prison sentence if found guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Yoran addressed the protesters, dismissing claims of a conspiracy involving the chief medical examiner of New York.
The incident in question took place in May 2023 when Neely, under the influence of the synthetic drug K2 and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, entered the subway car and began making threats. Penny intervened, placing him in a headlock until police arrived. Despite cooperating with law enforcement, Penny was later indicted and voluntarily surrendered to authorities.
The City Medical Examiner’s Office determined Neely’s death as a homicide due to asphyxiation from the chokehold. However, the defense argued that Neely’s death was a result of multiple factors, including his drug use, sickle cell trait, physical exertion, and mental illness.
Despite the contentious nature of the trial, support for Penny has been evident through a growing defense fund exceeding $3.2 million, with ongoing contributions. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for both Penny and Neely’s families, as well as the broader community.
