Daniel Penny Trial Begins in Subway Death

Daniel Penny, charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely, faced a jury in Manhattan Supreme Court as closing arguments began. The jury is deliberating whether Penny acted recklessly when he restrained Neely, a homeless man, for nearly six minutes, despite claims from the defense that Penny was acting in self-defense and that Neely's death was due to his mental health issues and drug use. Witnesses testified that Neely was alive when police arrived, raising questions about the exact cause of death. Protesters outside the courthouse shouted 'Guilty!' as Penny arrived, reflecting the public's divided sentiments on the case. The outcome could significantly influence discussions on self-defense and the treatment of mentally ill individuals in urban environments. If convicted, Penny faces up to 15 years in prison, although a non-jail sentence is also a possibility.