**Man Indicted by Grand Jury in Fatal Subway Chokehold Case**
A man who was charged with manslaughter for putting an agitated New York City subway rider in a fatal chokehold has been indicted by a grand jury. The indictment is an expected procedural step that allows the criminal case against him to continue.
**Background of the Case**
The charges were brought against Daniel Penny by Manhattan prosecutors following the May 1 death of Jordan Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with homelessness and mental illness. Neely was shouting at passengers and begging for money when Penny, along with the help of two other riders, pinned him to the floor of the moving subway car. Penny, a former U.S. Marine, then held Neely in a chokehold that lasted more than three minutes.
**Indictment Confirmed**
Details of the grand jury proceedings remain secret, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the indictment. Despite declining to comment on the matter, spokespeople for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had previously conducted a thorough investigation into the death of Jordan Neely.
**Trial and Justice Can Move Forward**
Mayor Adams expressed his support for the judicial process, stating that he has the utmost faith in it. Now that the grand jury has indicted Daniel Penny, a trial can proceed, and justice can be sought for the victim Neely.
**Claims and Defense**
Penny claimed that he was acting in self-defense and protecting other passengers. He stated that Neely had threatened to kill him and had expressed a willingness to die or spend his life in jail. However, a freelance journalist who recorded the incident contradicted Penny’s claims, stating that Neely was acting aggressively but had not assaulted anyone. It is worth noting that Neely was Black, while Penny is white.
Penny’s legal team, consisting of Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff, released a statement affirming that Penny did not intend to kill Neely but rather wanted to hold him until the police arrived. They acknowledged the grand jury’s decision to move the case to trial but emphasized that there had been no finding of wrongdoing. Raiser expressed confidence that a trial jury, when presented with the evidence, would find that Penny’s actions on the train were justified.
**Public Response and Fund for Legal Defense**
The death of Jordan Neely sparked protests from many who saw it as a case of racial injustice. However, there have also been individuals rallying around Daniel Penny, including several Republican candidates for president. In fact, a fund established to support Penny’s legal defense has raised over $2.8 million, according to his lawyers.
**Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalty**
Daniel Penny, aged 24, was released on $100,000 bond after his arraignment on May 12. He will now have to return to court for an arraignment on the new indictment. Under New York law, a grand jury indictment was necessary for prosecutors to move forward with the case. If convicted, Penny could face several years in prison.
By Indicting Daniel Penny, a Grand Jury Allows Criminal Case to Proceed
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