Daniel Penny is on trial for charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man on the New York City subway. Neely, a Michael Jackson impersonator with mental illness and drug problems, was killed by Penny, a former Marine, who put him in a chokehold for six minutes. The incident shed light on race relations, public safety on the subway, and mental health and homelessness in the city.
Prosecutors argue that Penny’s actions turned criminal when he continued choking Neely, even after he was no longer a threat. However, Penny’s defense claims he was acting in self-defense and did not intend to kill Neely. Dr. Satish Chundru, a defense witness, testified that Neely died from a combination of factors including sickle cell crisis, schizophrenia, and drug use, rather than the chokehold.
New York City medical examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris, a prosecution witness, ruled that Penny’s chokehold was the cause of Neely’s death, stating there were no alternative explanations. Throughout the trial, witnesses including passengers on the train and Officer Stephon Joefield provided testimony that contradicted each other’s accounts of the incident.
Closing arguments are expected after Thanksgiving, and the jury will start deliberations. If convicted of manslaughter, Penny could face up to 15 years in prison. The trial has raised important questions about policing, mental health, and race in New York City.
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