Today, Daniel Penny returned to a Manhattan courthouse for the opening statements in his manslaughter trial for the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man. The incident occurred when Penny placed Neely in a chokehold during an outburst on the subway. Outside the courthouse, protesters gathered, condemning Penny's actions as illegal, while Penny's defense argued that his actions were justified due to threats Neely had made on the subway.
During the trial, prosecutors acknowledged that Neely had caused fear among passengers on the train where the tragic event took place. Neely, a 34-year-old homeless man suffering from mental illness and drug addiction, tragically lost his life on the subway floor.
Video evidence showed that other passengers assisted Penny in restraining Neely, who later passed away. Prosecutors highlighted that Penny maintained the chokehold for nearly six minutes, deeming his actions as unnecessarily reckless. While Penny claimed he did not intend to kill Neely, the prosecution emphasized that deadly physical force, such as a chokehold, should only be used when absolutely necessary and for the shortest duration possible.
Penny, a 25-year-old Marine Corps veteran and college student, remained at the scene until the police arrived. He explained to detectives that he felt threatened by Neely's behavior and used the chokehold as a means to de-escalate the situation. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental illness and criminality, had previously faced charges for assaulting a woman.
If convicted, Penny could face up to 19 years in prison. The trial commenced after a week of jury selection, with both sides presenting their arguments in what promises to be a closely watched case.
