NYC Subway Chokehold Death: Opening Statements Imminent In Daniel Penny Trial
Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of a former New York City police officer charged with manslaughter in the chokehold death of Eric Garner.
Daniel Pantaleo is accused of using a banned chokehold on Garner, a 43-year-old unarmed black man, during an arrest in Staten Island in 2014. Garner's death sparked widespread protests against police brutality and excessive force.
Trial Details
The trial is being held in Staten Island Supreme Court. The jury will be composed of 12 jurors and six alternates.
Pantaleo has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney, Stuart London, has argued that Pantaleo was justified in using a chokehold because Garner resisted arrest.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence that Pantaleo used excessive force and that his actions led to Garner's death.
The trial is expected to take several weeks.
Context and Impact
The death of Eric Garner was a major turning point in the national debate over police brutality and racial profiling. The case helped to fuel the Black Lives Matter movement and led to widespread calls for police reform.
The trial of Daniel Pantaleo is being closely watched as a potential watershed moment in the ongoing fight for police accountability.