A jury unanimously rules Daniel Penny is not guilty in the New York City subway death of Jordan Neely, a Black man, who was put in a sleeper hold by Penny after Neely was acting erratically and talking about potential violence on a cowded F-train in Manhattan in May of 2023.
Penny was charged by New York City D.A., Alvin Bragg, and the prosecution presented the manslaughter case to jurors as a case of racial animus. Neely is Black and Penny is white.
Today’s jury ruling acquits Penny of negligent homicide, a lesser charge. Last Friday the jury advised the judge in the case they were deadlocked on the most serious charge of manslaughter and the judge eventually dismissed the more serious charge, leaving the jurors to rule on negligent homicide.
KVI’s John Carlson and producer Phil Vandervort discussed today’s acquittal and the two mistakes that the prosecution made in bringing this criminal case against Penny. To hear that portion of the show, just click the play button below.
After Neely’s death on the subway car, news reports began to detail mental health issues he suffered.
