A Manhattan jury on Dec. 9 acquitted Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide over the death of Jordan Neely, a mentally ill homeless man whom Penny put in a chokehold and wrestled to the ground on a subway in May 2023.
As soon as the jury foreperson said “not guilty,” cheers and applause briefly rang out near the front of the courtroom before the court officers told everyone to quiet down under threat of removal. Among Neely’s family and supporters, there was a much different reaction. Court officers asked two people to leave because of their enraged comments and demeanor.
The verdict brings a conclusion to a closely watched trial that took a little more than one month, from voir dire and the seating of a jury at the end of October to witness testimony throughout November up to last week’s closing statements and jury deliberations.
