BREAKING: Judge Dismisses Daniel Penny Manslaughter Charge After Jury Deadlock

Summary

A New York judge has dismissed the top charge of second-degree manslaughter against Daniel Penny, a former marine accused of killing homeless man Jordan Neely on a subway in 2023. This decision follows a prolonged jury deliberation process, where the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the manslaughter charge. The case now proceeds with the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, carrying a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison, significantly lower than the 15-year potential sentence for manslaughter. The trial will continue with jury deliberations on the new charge.

Takeaways

• 😀 A New York judge dismissed the second-degree manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny, the ex-Marine accused of killing homeless man Jordan Neely on a subway in 2023.
• 😀 The jury had been deliberating for four days and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the top charge of second-degree manslaughter.
• 😀 The judge gave the jury an Allen charge, urging them to continue deliberating and seek flexibility to reach a decision.
• 😀 Despite the Allen charge, the jury remained at an impasse and indicated that they could not reach a unanimous decision on the manslaughter charge.
• 😀 The defense argued for a mistrial, but the judge rejected it and instead agreed with the prosecution's proposal to drop the manslaughter charge.
• 😀 The prosecution now focuses on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in prison.
• 😀 The dropped manslaughter charge would have carried a maximum of up to 15 years in prison, highlighting the significant difference in potential sentencing.
• 😀 The decision to drop the manslaughter charge marks a big setback for the prosecution, though the trial is still ongoing with the lesser charge.
• 😀 The jury will now deliberate only on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, which is expected to result in a lesser penalty for Penny if convicted.
• 😀 The case continues to unfold, with jury deliberations expected to resume on Monday morning to determine Penny's fate.

Q & A

What charge was dismissed against Daniel Penny during his trial?

The judge dismissed the second-degree manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny.

Why was the manslaughter charge dismissed?

The dismissal occurred after the jury reached an impasse during their deliberations and was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the charge.

What is an Allen charge, and why was it issued in this case?

An Allen charge is an instruction given to jurors to encourage them to continue deliberating and be flexible in trying to reach a unanimous verdict. It was issued after the jury indicated they were at an impasse.

What was the defense's argument regarding the jury's deadlock?

The defense argued that a mistrial should be declared because continuing deliberations could coerce the jury into an unfair decision.

How did the judge respond to the defense's argument for a mistrial?

The judge rejected the defense's argument for a mistrial and instead accepted the prosecution's suggestion to drop the manslaughter charge and proceed with the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

What is the maximum sentence for criminally negligent homicide compared to second-degree manslaughter?

The charge of criminally negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison, while second-degree manslaughter had a maximum sentence of 15 years.

What will the jury now be considering in the case against Daniel Penny?

The jury will now be considering only the charge of criminally negligent homicide.

How does the reduction of the charge affect the potential outcome of the trial?

The reduction in charge from second-degree manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide lowers the potential punishment, which may influence the jury's deliberations and the final verdict.

What impact did the jury's deliberations have on the trial?

The jury's deliberations led to a deadlock on the top charge, resulting in the dismissal of the second-degree manslaughter charge and a shift to a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

What is the next step in the trial of Daniel Penny?

The next step in the trial is that the jury will continue deliberations on the charge of criminally negligent homicide, with the final verdict depending on their decision.