Daniel Penny not responsible in NYC subway chokehold case of Jordan Neely’s demise
NEW DELHI: Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old former Marine, was acquitted of criminally negligent murder within the demise of Jordan Neely by a jury on Monday. The jury reached its verdict after 5 days of deliberations.
“It actually, actually hurts,” Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, mentioned outdoors the courthouse. “I had sufficient of this. The system is rigged.”
There was no rapid remark from legal professionals for Penny, who rushed to a ready automobile after the decision.
The jurors thought-about whether or not Penny had acted with prison negligence when he positioned Neely in a chokehold on a New York Metropolis subway in Could 2023.
The jury was deadlocked on a separate cost of manslaughter final week. Nevertheless, on the request of prosecutors on Friday, December 6, Decide Maxwell Wiley dismissed the second-degree manslaughter cost and instructed the jury to concentrate on the lesser cost of negligent murder.
Each costs had been felonies that might end in vital jail time if Penny had been convicted.
Prosecutors alleged that Penny killed Neely by inserting him in a chokehold for six minutes. The town’s health worker acknowledged that the chokehold induced Neely’s demise. Nevertheless, the protection argued that Neely’s demise was brought on by drug use and an present medical situation.
Penny’s legal professionals acknowledged that he supposed to guard subway passengers from Neely, who witnesses reported was behaving erratically and yelling when he boarded the practice.
A Case That Divided Public Opinion
The case has sparked protests from each responsible and not-guilty advocates.
It highlighted divisions in American society, together with problems with race, politics, crime, city life, psychological sickness, and homelessness. Jordan Neely was Black, whereas Daniel Penny is white.
All through the trial, there have been usually conflicting demonstrations outdoors the courthouse. Excessive-profile Republican politicians praised Penny as a hero, whereas notable Democrats attended Neely’s funeral.
Penny, 26, served within the Marines for 4 years earlier than pursuing a level in structure. Neely, 30, was a subway performer with a tragic life story; his mom was murdered and positioned in a suitcase when he was an adolescent.
In his youth, Neely would usually carry out Michael Jackson’s signature moonwalks in tribute in addition to to earn some bucks. However he additionally struggled with melancholy and schizophrenia with serial hospitalizations. Neely instructed a health care provider as soon as that he needed to dig by way of the rubbish for meals which made him ponder suicide.
Six years later, some subway commuters instructed 911 operators that he tried to assault individuals saying he was thirsty and hungry.
Neely was unarmed, with nothing however a muffin in his pocket, and didn’t contact any passengers.
Penny got here up behind Neely and took him to the ground and put him out.
(With inputs from AP)
