Jordan Neely's family slams Daniel Penny's statement as 'character assassination' to justify killing
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: The family of Jordan Neely, 30, has lashed out at Daniel Penny's statement criticizing it as more of a "character assassination" lack of remorse and feeling "entitled" to kill Jordan. Penny's lawyers on Friday, May 5 stated that Neely had been "aggressively threatening" their client and other riders on an F Train in Manhattan.
Raiser and Kenniff who represent Penny also noted that Neely had "violent and erratic behavior" due to ongoing and untreated "mental health illness." They said, "Those suffering from mental illness have been treated indifferently."
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'Penny had no regard for their loved ones' life'
Neely's family lashed out at Penny's lawyers on Monday, May 8. Their representative said that Penny had no regard for their loved ones' life. “Daniel Penny’s press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret," the statement from Neely’s family said. "It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordan‘s life," said the attorneys, Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards as per NBC News.
Even though Penny's attorneys cited Neely's long suffered mental health illness and documented content and erratic behavior, Neely's family argued that Penny could not have been aware of their loved one's prior difficulties before placing a chokehold on him or him.
"The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordan's history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan‘s neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing. Mills and Edwards' statement added, "He never attempted to help him at all. In short, his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison."
'It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference'
Regarding the indifference Penny's attorney mentioned, "Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown 'indifference' for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference, both at the time he killed Jordan and now in his first public message."
Penny's lawyer's statement further read, “When Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived. Daniel never intended to harm Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death,” according to the statement. "For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated indifferently. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways."
