Daniel Penny acquitted in subway chokehold death
Not Guilty: Jury Delivers Verdict in Fatal Subway Chokehold Case
After five days of deliberations, a jury in Manhattan has reached a verdict in the highly publicized case of Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran accused of putting a man in a fatal chokehold on a subway train last year. The jury of seven women and five men has found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, sparking both outrage and relief in the courtroom and outside.
Divided Opinions Erupt in Court
The verdict was met with tears of joy from Penny’s supporters, who had cast him as a hero for protecting other subway riders from the alleged threatening behavior of the victim, Jordan Ne. Ne’s family, however, was devastated, with his mother expressing her grief in court, saying, "I just want to say I miss my son. It hurts."
Background of the Case
The incident occurred on a subway train in Manhattan last year, when Penny allegedly put Ne in a chokehold for six minutes. The video of the incident went viral, sparking widespread outrage and debate about the case. Penny’s defense team argued that he did not cause Ne’s death, instead blaming a genetic condition and Ne’s struggles with mental illness and alleged drug use.
Judge Tosses Out Top Charge
The judge had earlier tossed out the top charge of manslaughter, citing a deadlock among jurors. The jury returned to deliberate on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, which was accepted by the DA’s office.
Reactions to the Verdict
The DA’s office released a statement saying, "The jury has now spoken. We respect their verdict." The case has sparked heated debate about the state of mental health services in New York City, with some viewing Ne’s death as an indictment of a broken system that failed to protect a vulnerable individual.
A Nation Divided
The case has raised tough questions about the role of law enforcement in dealing with mental health crises and the limits of self-defense in public spaces. While some see Penny as a hero who acted to protect others, others view his actions as excessive and deadly. The verdict is likely to be felt deeply by both sides, with some calling for reforms to the mental health system and others expressing outrage at the outcome.
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