U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett believes Daniel Penny’s not guilty verdict is a “miscarriage of justice.”
On Monday, a Manhattan jury acquitted 26-year-old Penny of criminal negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old Black homeless man. On Dec. 6, Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed the more serious charge of second-degree manslaughter at the request of prosecutors, after members of the jury failed to reach a verdict.
In May 2023, Penny who is a former marine, placed Neely in a six-minute-long fatal chokehold while on a New York City subway car. Police and eyewitnesses reported that Neely was acting erratically and threatening passengers before tragedy struck. After an investigation into the ordeal, Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Crockett, a former criminal defense attorney argues that, “Jordan Neely was unarmed. He needed support and care.”
“Instead, he received a death sentence. His family grieves while the man who took his life walks free,” added the Texas lawmaker. “It is a green light for more violence against unarmed Black Americans.”
During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Penny acted recklessly and remorselessly in protecting himself against Neely, while the defense contested that Neely was acting “aggressively” and “unhinged,” and as a result Penny had to protect himself and other passengers. In addition, the defense tried to persuade jurors that Penny’s chokehold wasn’t the cause of Neely’s death, although the city’s medical examiner concluded that to be the case.
In a press conference following the not guilty verdict, Andre Zachary, Neely’s father told reporters that the justice “system is rigged.”
“I miss my son. My son didn’t have to go through this…it hurts,” said Zachary. “What are we going to do people? What’s going to happen to us now? I’ve had enough of this. The system is rigged. Come on people. Let’s do something about this.”
At this time, Neely’s family is hoping to achieve some sort of justice and has filed a civil lawsuit for negligent contact, assault and battery that led to his death.
They have requested monetary damages that “a jury may find reasonable, fair and just.”
Let me know your thoughts below. Did the jury get it wrong here?
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