The defense in the Daniel Penny case continues as the client did not take the stand in the drowning death of Jordan Neely on the New York subway.

NEW YORK — The defense in Daniel Penny’s manslaughter trial rested Friday before their client took the stand.

The judge will hold a conference with attorneys on Monday and present his instructions to the jury.

The jury will be closed until after Thanksgiving, when the trial will continue with closing arguments, the judge’s instructions and deliberations.

Earlier in the day, a forensic pathologist took the stand and was cross-examined by the prosecution.

Texas expert Dr. After Satish Chundru said Thursday that it was impossible for Jordan Neely to die from asphyxiation, prosecutors are trying to question his credibility.

He said Neely died from the “combined effects” of synthetic marijuana, schizophrenia, struggling and being subdued, and a blood disorder that can lead to fatal complications during exertion.

Penny’s attorney also argued that Neely was in a psychotic state and had high K2 levels, triggering a sickle crisis that led to a lack of oxygen and caused his death.

Chundru’s testimony testified to city medical examiner Dr. who performed Neely’s autopsy. It completely contradicted Cynthia Harris’ findings.

He had told jurors earlier in the trial that Neely suffered “death by asphyxiation” as a result of asphyxiation. He called it “extremely unlikely” that Neely’s death was caused by synthetic marijuana use and sickle cell disease, which is related but not equivalent to sickle cell disease.

There was “unanimity” in the medical examiner’s office that Neely died of asphyxiation, Harris said, adding: “There are no alternative plausible explanations.”

The prosecution rested on Monday morning, and the defense began presenting its case on Monday afternoon.

They called Penny’s mother, sister, fellow Marines as character witnesses, a forensic psychiatrist to testify about Neely’s psychiatric history, and a forensic pathologist on Thursday morning.

If convicted, Penny faces up to 15 years in prison.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.