The incident touched raw nerves and fueled debate about race relations, public safety, urban life and different approaches to crime, homelessness and mental illness.
NEW YORK — A defense lawyer asked jurors to put themselves in frightened subway riders’ shoes Monday at the trial of a Marine veteran charged with choking an irate, homeless man to death after an outburst on a New York underground train.
Prosecutors countered that Daniel Penny was way too forceful and reckless in responding to Jordan Neely.
Both sides gave closing arguments Monday at Penny’s trial on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. Penny, who gripped Neely’s neck for about six minutes, claims he was defending fellow passengers. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say Penny was justified in using some physical force after Neely shouted in a crowded train about being willing to die, willing to go jail or — as Penny and some other passengers recalled — …