Jordan Neely’s Death and the Trial of Daniel Penny
Jordan Neely, a Black man who tragically lost his life after being choked in a subway car last year, was found to have the sickle cell trait, a genetic condition that can significantly impact blood cells and is predominantly found in individuals of African descent. While it remains uncertain whether Mr. Neely was aware of his condition, it has emerged as a contentious issue in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Currently on trial for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, Daniel Penny is accused of putting Mr. Neely in a chokehold for approximately six minutes, which prosecutors argue restricted his airway. According to the prosecution, when Mr. Neely attempted to escape the hold, the pressure applied by Mr. Penny only intensified.
In contrast, the defense team for Mr. Penny has focused their argument on persuading the jurors that the chokehold was not the direct cause of Mr. Neely’s death. They contend that it is impossible to ascertain the exact pressure exerted by Mr. Penny during the incident. Before concluding their case on Friday, the defense posited that a combination of factors—including Mr. Neely’s schizophrenia, his use of synthetic marijuana, and his sickle cell trait—contributed to his demise. While individuals with the sickle cell trait typically do not display many symptoms or have a significant number of sickle-shaped cells, evidence from Mr. Neely’s autopsy revealed the presence of misshapen blood cells at the time of his death.
With both the defense and prosecution having presented their respective cases, attention now turns to the closing arguments that will be delivered to the 12 jurors and four alternates. Judge Maxwell Wiley, who is overseeing the trial, has scheduled these closing arguments to take place after the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Defense’s Case: Highlighting the Role of Sickle Cell Trait
Dr. Cynthia Harris, the medical examiner, concluded that Mr. Neely’s death was the result of “compression of the neck,” a determination she maintained throughout three days of testimony. However, the defense introduced an expert witness, Dr. Satish Chundru, a forensic pathologist, to challenge this conclusion.
Dr. Chundru argued that Mr. Neely’s death was due to a “combination of factors.” He outlined several contributing elements to the jurors, stating: “Sickle cell crisis, the schizophrenia, the struggle and restraint, and the synthetic marijuana,” emphasizing that while Mr. Penny engaged in physical confrontation with Mr. Neely, he did not directly cause his death through choking.
