New York City, NY – A forensic pathologist hired by Daniel Penny’s defense team testified that Jordan Neely did not die from a chokehold, but rather from a combination of various factors. Penny faces charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for Neely’s death on a New York City subway train in May 2023.

Dr. Satish Chundru, the second expert witness for the defense, refuted the findings of a New York City medical examiner who concluded that Neely’s death was caused by compression to his neck from a chokehold. Chundru, a seasoned forensic pathologist with extensive experience, contended that Neely’s death was not solely the result of the chokehold applied by Penny.

Neely, described as a 30-year-old man with a history of mental illness, exhibited distressing behavior on the subway train prior to the altercation. Penny, a 26-year-old passenger on the train, subdued Neely with a chokehold after Neely’s outburst. The defense maintains that Penny’s actions were not intended to cause harm but to protect others on the train.

Prosecutors allege that Penny held Neely in a chokehold for a significant period before he lost consciousness and succumbed. Chundru’s testimony challenged the earlier findings of Dr. Cynthia Harris, the medical examiner who conducted Neely’s autopsy. Chundru’s examination suggested that Neely’s death was due to a combination of factors including sickle cell crisis, schizophrenia, struggle and restraint, and the presence of synthetic marijuana in his system.

The courtroom was filled with tension as Neely’s father, Andre Zachary, reacted to Chundru’s testimony. Despite Harris’s testimony asserting that Neely died from asphyxiation, Chundru’s analysis offered a differing perspective on the cause of death.

Penny’s defense team also presented character witnesses, including his sister and mother, who attested to his empathy, honesty, and integrity. The defense aimed to showcase Penny’s positive attributes amidst the scrutiny of his actions on the subway train. These testimonies served to counter earlier claims that Penny had misled authorities during the investigation.

As the trial continues, the differing expert opinions and witness testimonies provide a complex narrative of the events leading to Neely’s tragic death on the New York City subway. The legal proceedings aim to uncover the truth behind the incident and determine the accountability of those involved.