Subway riders testify in Daniel Penny deadly subway chokehold trial
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- More witnesses took the stand Thursday for day three of the manslaughter trial of Marine veteran Daniel Penny.
It has been a very challenging trial. Every day jurors have seen a different video of Jordan Neely dead on the floor of the subway car.
On Thursday morning, a woman in the courtroom started crying hysterically and had to leave when a new video was introduced by the prosecutors.
A 38-year-old Brooklyn woman, who defense attorneys call their star witness, wrapped up her testimony. She testified when Neely was ranting his tone was so believable that there was a moment went she thought she was going to die. She described his behavior as satanic.
She testified: "I assumed he was having some sort of mental breakdown," that his threats were "very traumatic and very believable," and that "everyone was frozen, I truly thought I was going to die."
Another straphanger to testify was an 18-year-old high school student, Morielyn Sanchez, who spoke about the moment Penny placed Neely in a chokehold.
"You felt a sense of relief when you saw that?" the defense asked.
"Yes," said subway rider Morielyn Sanchez.
"Were you still scared?" the defense asked.
"Yes, I was," she said.
"Were you afraid that Jordan Neely would get up and make good on his threats?" the defense asked.
"No," Sanchez said.
"You didn't think he was holding him overly tightly, did you?" they asked.
"Yes," she said.
Another straphanger, Johnny Grima, testified he tried to intervene after seeing Neely wasn't responding, and he told the court:
"I told him to roll him over on his side so he don't choke," saying, "I tried to pour water on his forehead," but "Daniel Penny said stop, he said stop."
The moment that Penny prevented Grima from pouring water on Neely was seen on cellphone video.
Penny has not shown any reaction or emotion to the testimony shown in court. His attorneys argue that he came to the aid of terrified subway riders and never intended to harm Neely.
The trial was expected to last through Thanksgiving, but prosecutors are moving through their witnesses very quickly.
Penny faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
ALSO READ: Death mix-up leaves Staten Island family in anguish on Halloween
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
