The charges that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought against Daniel Penny for the alleged murder of subway vagrant Jordan Neely fell apart in slow motion. On Friday, prosecutors tossed a manslaughter charge against Penny after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. But the jury did manage to reach a consensus on Monday on the outstanding charge of negligent homicide: not guilty.
The verdict represents a repudiation of those who argued that Penny was in no way justified when he attempted to subdue an erratic and menacing homeless man amid an outbreak of violent criminality in New York City’s subway system. The defense prevailed in convincing the jury that there was sufficient evidence to blame Penny alone for Neely’s death, but that wasn’t the only argument jurors were asked to adjudicate.
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