Manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny dismissed after jurors tell judge they can’t agree

NEW YORK – The choose in Daniel Penny’s trial for the dying of Jordan Neely dismissed the second-degree manslaughter cost towards him Friday after the jury twice mentioned they have been unable to achieve a unanimous choice. 

The dismissal of the cost clears the way in which for the jury to determine on the lesser cost of criminally negligent murder, which carries as much as 4 years in jail. Penny may have confronted as much as 15 years in jail if convicted of manslaughter, which is not on the desk. 

Friday morning, the jury knowledgeable the choose they have been unable to achieve unanimity on the manslaughter cost, however the choose ordered them to maintain deliberating. At round 3 p.m., the jury got here again with a second word, saying they have been nonetheless unable to agree. 

The protection moved for a mistrial, however the choose granted the prosecution’s request to dismiss the cost, clearing the way in which for the jury to determine on criminally negligent murder. 

The jury was despatched house for the day and can return on Monday. 

Penny initially charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent murder

Penny, 26, is charged in the chokehold dying of Neely aboard a subway final yr. The Marine veteran pleaded not responsible to manslaughter and criminally negligent murder expenses. 

The choose instructed the jury originally of deliberations that they have to agree on the manslaughter cost earlier than they’ll even think about the second cost of criminally negligent murder. The jury has been instructed all alongside that in the event that they have been to search out Penny responsible of second-degree manslaughter, they’d not need to difficulty a call on the lesser depend. 

Deliberations will proceed for a fifth day, no less than

The jury began deliberating on Tuesday and has despatched a number of notes since. 

Jurors requested to look at mobile phone and police bodycam footage of the incident, in addition to Penny’s interview on the police station. Additionally they wished to listen to readback of the protection’s cross examination of New York Metropolis Medical Examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris, who carried out Neely’s post-mortem, and dominated his reason for dying compression of the neck. 

Jurors additionally requested for a part of the choose’s directions, in addition to the authorized definitions of “recklessness” and “negligence,” to be re-read to them. Additionally they have requested the choose for clarification on the time period “affordable particular person.” 

Prosecutors have argued that whereas Penny’s intentions have been good in restraining Neely, he had him in a chokehold for too lengthy. Penny’s protection has argued he wasn’t utilizing stress throughout the maintain, simply holding Neely down. A protection witness additionally disagreed with the Medical Examiner’s reason for dying dedication, arguing Neely died as a result of a mix of things together with medication and sickle cell disaster.