In a surprising turn of events, Marine veteran Daniel Penny is inching towards liberation as a judge dismissed the primary manslaughter charge against him on Friday.
However, he is slated to reappear in court next week to confront lesser charges.
As reported by Daily Mail, Penny was implicated in a manslaughter case for intervening when Jordan Neely, a mentally unstable homeless individual, posed a threat to subway commuters on an F train in New York City in May 2023. Penny, 24, restrained Neely, 30, in a chokehold on the subway car floor until the arrival of law enforcement. Neely, a subway performer recognized for his Michael Jackson impersonations, was later pronounced dead at the hospital, leading to Penny's charges.
Penny was subsequently demonized as a racist vigilante and ridiculed by liberal factions. However, a significant number of people rallied behind him, lauding him as a hero who took a stand in a city grappling with lawlessness when no one else dared to.
The jury, composed of 12 New Yorkers, meticulously examined the evidence, scrutinizing testimony transcripts and repeatedly viewing bodycam footage from the incident. After four days of deliberation, they announced their inability to reach a unanimous verdict for the second time on the crucial charge of second-degree manslaughter.
In an unusual move, the judge, instead of declaring a mistrial, acceded to the prosecution's request to drop the top charge. The jury has been instructed to reconvene next week to concentrate on the second count: criminally negligent homicide.
While live coverage of the case has concluded, a comprehensive recap of the day's proceedings can be found below. This case continues to stir debate about individual action and law enforcement in a city grappling with crime and disorder.
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