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Commentary on “hero” Daniel Penny found professional golfer Phil Mickelson adding his own words of praise for the veteran on trial.

After jury deliberations were twice deadlocked in a New York City courthouse Friday regarding the second-degree manslaughter charge brought against U.S. Marine Corps veteran Daniel Penny, the judge agreed to the state’s request to dismiss that charge.

Ahead of Monday’s resumption with the pending charge of criminally negligent homicide, the legendary golfer offered his thanks to Penny for repeatedly putting his own life on the line for others.

“Agree. Thank you Daniel for serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual,” Mickelson captioned a post from Collin Rugg.

Rugg had shared a video of Penny recounting his experience hearing the alleged threats posed to fellow passengers by Jordan Neely before he stepped in to restrain the man who ultimately died following the May 1, 2023 interaction, leading to the charges against the Samaritan.

“Daniel Penny is a model citizen who should be praised by the city of New York. He is a breed of young men who are becoming less and less common. He puts his own safety at risk to help others,” the video caption had stated. “He didn’t cower or pull out his phone to film when Jordan Neely started threatening to [kill] people. Instead, he took it upon himself to protect subway passengers. He was praised by the passengers on the train but was ridiculed by the city of New York.”

“He is the citizen that every mayor of every city should want more of. He is the person you hope is around if your loved ones’ lives are being threatened. Anyone who is quiet about this injustice lacks moral clarity and should take a long look in the mirror,” added Rugg who concluded, “Daniel Penny is a hero.”

Following the dismissal of the second-degree manslaughter charge Friday, the defense voiced cause to have the entire case declared a mistrial as rules in New York State do not allow a jury to consider a lesser charge unless the defendant has been acquitted of the greater charge.

“We are obviously very pleased with the Court’s decision to withdraw the top count of this indictment,” a statement from defense attorney Thomas Kenniff offered. “However, we have always maintained that Danny acted reasonably in restraining Jordan Neely, and justice will not be served until he is acquitted of criminally negligent homicide as well. We are hopeful that will happen when the jury returns on Monday.”

Though he hadn’t commented on it, as praise was showered on the golfer for speaking up, Mickelson had also shared a post that read, “If Daniel Penny is sent to prison, by a jury of majority women, don’t ever ask again why men aren’t stepping in to protect others on the street/subway…It’s simply not worth it in today’s society.”

Kevin Haggerty
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