Daniel Penny acquitted in court in the case of Jordan Nili’s death: details, father’s reaction
10 december 2024 в 00:37
The trial of Daniel Penny continues, attracting public attention for his controversial involvement in the death of Jordan Niles. Penny, a former US Marine, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter after strangling a 30-year-old homeless man with a history of mental illness in the New York City subway in May 2023.
Let’s take a closer look at Penny’s actions, the jury, the verdict, and more.
Penny held Niles in a chokehold in a subway car in May 2023 for six minutes, holding him for at least 51 seconds after his body became motionless. The city’s medical examiner concluded that Penny’s chokehold killed Niles.
The jury consisted of seven women and five men, but little was known about the jury members, which is typical for high-profile cases to protect their confidentiality.
On December 9, 2024, the jury reached a unanimous verdict of «not guilty», - acquitting Penny of the charge of involuntary manslaughter. The jury deliberated for over 24 hours over five days. Meanwhile, a more serious charge of second-degree involuntary manslaughter was rejected on Friday after the jury failed to reach a verdict on that count.
According to many reports, Jordan was his mother Christie Niles' only child, and they had a close relationship. His aunt, Mildred Mahazu, described them as «peas in a pod». However, Jordan’s life took a tragic turn on April 3, 2007, when, at the age of 14, he lost his mother in a brutal murder committed by her boyfriend, Sean Sutherland. Sutherland was later convicted of the crime after disposing of her body in a suitcase on a parkway in the Bronx. Mahazu believes that this devastating loss had a profound impact on Jordan, causing him to struggle with grief and leading to a difficult path in his teenage years.
In the following years, Niles began performing on the streets of New York, dancing to Michael Jackson hits. Despite receiving some recognition for his talents, he continued to face difficulties on the streets. At the time of his death, The New York Times reported that Niles was one of the top 50 «highly vulnerable individuals» in New York City, receiving attention from homeless assistance services. New York magazine noted that he moved between shelters known for their poor conditions and had been hospitalized multiple times.
After the verdict in Penny’s trial, Jordan’s father, Andre Zachary, spoke at a press conference outside the courthouse, expressing his sorrow and disappointment: «I just want to say, I miss my son. My son didn’t have to go through this. I didn’t have to go through this. It hurts. It really, really hurts. I’ve had enough, the system is rigged». Zachary’s lawyer confirmed that they will file a civil lawsuit against Penny
Let’s take a closer look at Penny’s actions, the jury, the verdict, and more.
Penny held Niles in a chokehold in a subway car in May 2023 for six minutes, holding him for at least 51 seconds after his body became motionless. The city’s medical examiner concluded that Penny’s chokehold killed Niles.
The jury consisted of seven women and five men, but little was known about the jury members, which is typical for high-profile cases to protect their confidentiality.
On December 9, 2024, the jury reached a unanimous verdict of «not guilty», - acquitting Penny of the charge of involuntary manslaughter. The jury deliberated for over 24 hours over five days. Meanwhile, a more serious charge of second-degree involuntary manslaughter was rejected on Friday after the jury failed to reach a verdict on that count.
According to many reports, Jordan was his mother Christie Niles' only child, and they had a close relationship. His aunt, Mildred Mahazu, described them as «peas in a pod». However, Jordan’s life took a tragic turn on April 3, 2007, when, at the age of 14, he lost his mother in a brutal murder committed by her boyfriend, Sean Sutherland. Sutherland was later convicted of the crime after disposing of her body in a suitcase on a parkway in the Bronx. Mahazu believes that this devastating loss had a profound impact on Jordan, causing him to struggle with grief and leading to a difficult path in his teenage years.
In the following years, Niles began performing on the streets of New York, dancing to Michael Jackson hits. Despite receiving some recognition for his talents, he continued to face difficulties on the streets. At the time of his death, The New York Times reported that Niles was one of the top 50 «highly vulnerable individuals» in New York City, receiving attention from homeless assistance services. New York magazine noted that he moved between shelters known for their poor conditions and had been hospitalized multiple times.
After the verdict in Penny’s trial, Jordan’s father, Andre Zachary, spoke at a press conference outside the courthouse, expressing his sorrow and disappointment: «I just want to say, I miss my son. My son didn’t have to go through this. I didn’t have to go through this. It hurts. It really, really hurts. I’ve had enough, the system is rigged». Zachary’s lawyer confirmed that they will file a civil lawsuit against Penny
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
