A Manhattan judge has ruled that jurors hearing the case of Daniel Penny, who is charged in the fatal subway chokehold of Jordan Neely, will remain anonymous due to months of threats made to all parties involved in the case. The decision to conceal the identities of the 12 jurors was granted based on the prosecution’s request, with Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran arguing that it would help ensure a fairer outcome given the tensions surrounding the high-profile trial.
Jury selection began Monday, with potential panelists being pre-screened to sit on the six-week trial. The judge hopes to have 90 potential jurors in court by Friday for specific questioning. Penny, a former Marine, faces charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide and could be sentenced to 19 years in prison if convicted on both charges.
The case stems from an incident in May 2023 when Penny allegedly choked Neely, a homeless former Michael Jackson impersonator, on a Manhattan subway car. Penny claimed he was trying to de-escalate a situation with the 30-year-old Neely, who he said was acting threateningly. Despite facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter, Penny maintains that he did not intend to kill Neely. This decision to have an anonymous jury aims to alleviate tensions and ensure a fair trial process for all involved.
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