Penny's Defense Rests in Neely Manslaughter Case

The defense in the manslaughter trial of Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran accused of causing the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man on a New York City subway, has rested its case. Penny chose not to testify, with his defense relying on recorded statements made to police shortly after the incident. The trial has highlighted issues of race, public safety, and mental health, as Penny, who is white, restrained Neely, a Black man with mental health issues, in a chokehold. Penny's defense argued he acted to protect himself and others from Neely, who was behaving erratically but not violently, according to prosecutors. A pathologist for the defense disputed the New York City medical examiner's finding that the chokehold caused Neely's death, suggesting other factors contributed. Closing arguments and jury deliberations are expected after Thanksgiving.