Bernie Goetz Calls Prosecution of Daniel Penny “BS” in Chokehold Death Case
Bernie Goetz, known as the original subway vigilante, recently shared his thoughts on the prosecution of Daniel Penny for the chokehold death of Jordan Neely aboard a train, calling it “BS.” In a conversation with WABC’s Frank Morano on the show “The Other Side of Midnight,” Goetz criticized the legal system and compared Penny’s case to his own nearly 40 years ago.
Goetz, now 77 years old, expressed his belief that the legal system should be a “truth-seeking process,” but in his opinion, both his case and Penny’s case were not true representations of justice. He went on to say that cases like these are more about imposing the will of those in power rather than protecting the public.
On December 9, Penny was acquitted by a Manhattan jury on charges of criminally negligent homicide in the high-profile case that raised questions about mental illness, public safety, and bystander responsibilities. The incident, which occurred on an uptown F train, involved Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, putting Neely, a 30-year-old troubled homeless man, in a chokehold after Neely menaced others and made threats.
Reflecting on his own experience, Goetz recalled the events of December 22, 1984, when he shot four youths who demanded money from him on a downtown 2 train. The aftermath of the incident had lasting consequences, with one victim committing suicide and another being left paralyzed.
Goetz noted that the level of violence on today’s subways pales in comparison to the 1980s when he was involved in his own case. He highlighted the higher crime rates and the challenges faced by New York City at that time. Goetz suggested that his prosecution was politically motivated, linked to then-Governor Mario Cuomo’s aspirations.
Looking ahead, he speculated on the impact of Penny’s acquittal on his life. Goetz acknowledged the challenges of navigating a high-profile legal battle and how it could shape Penny’s future perspectives as he matures.
