Jury Delivers Verdict on Final Charge Against Daniel Penny

Jury Delivers Verdict on Final Charge Against Daniel Penny

A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on a disruptive subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a highly publicized case.

A jury in Manhattan found Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, which occurred last year. Earlier in the deliberations, a manslaughter charge—considered more severe—was dismissed after the jury deadlocked on the count.

Both charges were felonies and could have resulted in prison time.

The incident involved Penny placing Neely in a chokehold for approximately six minutes, with portions of the encounter recorded by other subway passengers.

Penny’s legal team argued that he was acting in defense of himself and other passengers from what they described as a threatening and erratic individual. They also contested the medical examiner’s conclusion that the chokehold was the cause of Neely’s death.

Prosecutors, however, asserted that Penny’s response was excessively forceful and disproportionate to the situation.

The trial sparked protests outside the courthouse, with competing demonstrations reflecting the politically charged nature of the case. Prominent Republican politicians praised Penny as a hero, while leading Democrats, including some who attended Neely’s funeral, criticized his actions.

The trial reached a turning point last Friday when jurors reported they were unable to unanimously decide on the manslaughter charge. The judge dismissed the charge at the request of prosecutors.

Penny, a former Marine who served for four years, has since pursued studies in architecture.

Subscribe to Lib Fails

Don’t miss out on the latest issues. Sign up now to get access to the library of members-only issues.
jamie@example.com
Subscribe