DailyMail.com By BRITTANY CHAIN IN MANHATTAN and GERMANIA RODRIGUEZ POLEO, CHIEF U.S. REPORTER
Daniel Penny has been found not guilty of negligent homicide after a mammoth trial over the subway death of Jordan Neely.
Jurors returned their verdict on Monday morning, prompting cheers from Penny’s legal team and foul-mouthed outbursts amongst the public gallery, where Neely’s supporters were sitting.
On Friday, Justice Maxwell Wiley had allowed the state to dismiss the top charge of manslaughter after it became clear jurors would not be able to reach a verdict. It paved the way for them to consider the lesser charge.
Penny’s lawyers had demanded a mistrial, but the request was repeatedly denied and by late Monday morning, jurors sent a note revealing they’d reached consensus, far quicker than it took them to deliberate on the manslaughter charge.
The defense celebrated their victory in Manhattan’s Financial District on Monday afternoon, escaping the courthouse through a backdoor swiftly, as protesters who were gathered out the front lashed out at the decision.
Penny placed Neely, 30, in a chokehold on the train car floor after the homeless, mentally ill street performer began threatening commuters.