Daniel Penny trial judge agrees to drop top manslaughter count after jury deadlocks twice

Jurors stated they were deadlocked on the manslaughter charge, prompting Justice Wiley to dismiss it and focus deliberations on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.

Justice Wiley's humorous guidance to jurors, urging them to 'go home and think about something else,' marks a rare moment of levity in a tense judicial process.

This case encapsulates a fierce debate on self-defense and the implications of taking a life, reigniting discussions about the treatment of homeless individuals in urban environments.

With the top manslaughter charge dismissed, the jurors will now consider if Penny acted with criminal negligence rather than malice, which could significantly reduce his sentence.

Read at New York Post