Manhattan jurors Tuesday were shown what prosecutors have said is their “most critical piece of evidence’’ against Daniel Penny — frame-by-frame footage of him allegedly tightening his chokehold on Jordan Neely.
The images were shown at Penny’s manslaughter trial after a Bronx straphanger testified that he jumped in to try to help Penny, 26, restrain the menacing Neely, 30, who at one point looked like he was trying to “escape” the Marine veteran’s chokehold .
The video, an edited version of footage shot by a journalist, showed — frame-by-frame — Penny appearing to increase the pressure of his chokehold as Neely tries to escape.
The footage is what prosecutors have previously called the “most critical piece of evidence” that jurors will see at Penny’s manslaughter trial.
“You will see Mr. Neely’s life being snuffed out before your very eyes,” Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran had said during opening statements.