CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson expressed little surprise at the acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny on charges of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely.
Penny had been involved in a fatal altercation on a New York City subway, where he restrained Neely with a chokehold after Neely began displaying erratic and allegedly threatening behavior.
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Jackson, speaking on “CNN Newsroom with Pamela Brown,” suggested two key factors that likely influenced the jury’s decision:
Self-defense: “Certainly that’s what the defense argued, that [Neely] represented an immediate threat,” Jackson stated. He explained that the jury may have been convinced that Penny’s actions were a reasonable response to a perceived threat of serious harm.
Causation: Jackson highlighted the conflicting medical evidence presented in the case. While the prosecution’s medical examiner attributed Neely’s death to the chokehold, the defense argued that insufficient pressure was applied to cause death and pointed to Neely’s schizophrenia and drug use as contributing factors. “So I think there were plenty of issues for the jury to conclude that…he wasn’t the cause,” Jackson concluded.
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The case garnered significant attention and sparked public debate surrounding issues of race, mental health, and public safety. While Penny initially faced a more serious manslaughter charge, it was dismissed due to a hung jury. Ultimately, the jury acquitted Penny on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.
Jackson’s analysis sheds light on the complexities of the case and the legal considerations that may have led to the jury’s verdict.
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