House of cards case against Daniel Penny is falling apart

On Friday, the defense stayed in the Daniel Penny hearing, leaving many observers asking what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was thinking as he pursued this case.

Throughout his second-degree manslaughter trial, Bragg’s prosecutors tried to sell the narrative that the Navy vet overreacted and acted “carelessly” when he restrained Jordan Neely on the F train in May 2023.

But a lot prosecution Witnesses who were Penny’s fellow passengers poked major holes in this story; Experienced subway passengers, one after another, described how terrified they were in the train car with the angry, erratic and threatening Neely.

a woman He said he was “very scared” by Neely’s behavior and he remembered shouting: “I don’t care. I will kill a mother—–r. I’m ready to die.”

He stayed after the ordeal to thank Penny for defending him and everyone in the car that day.

Another high school student said: “I was so nervousHe said he was afraid he would “pass out” and did not hear the other passengers’ warning to Penny to let go of Neely during the struggle.

A third said: Penny He restrained Neely “so he couldn’t attack anyone” – More evidence that Penny acted selflessly on behalf of others, and a direct blow to leftists’ claims that her actions were racially motivated.

In short, the prosecution believes that Penny acted rationally and bravely in a sad situation.

And the defense started with a bang.

On Thursday, forensic pathologist Dr. Satish Chundru He stated that it was not Penny’s drowning that killed Neely.instead, “the combined effects of the sickle cell crisis, schizophrenia, challenge and restraint, and synthetic marijuana.”

Trial evidence showed Neely had K2, a debilitating street drug that can trigger psychosis, in his system at the time of his death.

Chundru’s statement Neely’s He was still alive when police responded to the scene.

With so much evidence that Penny was indeed protecting herself and others, and that other factors likely contributed to Neely’s death, Bragg’s decision to file a lawsuit seems like pure politics.

Closing arguments begin December 2; It’s hard to imagine the jury will have to deliberate for long.

It is Bragg and his team who will have to spend time understanding why they are taking such a weak case to court.