A former US Marine who placed a passenger in a fatal chokehold on the New York subway has appeared in court to be charged with manslaughter.
Daniel Penny, 24, is accused of causing the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely on 1 May. He did not enter a plea.
His lawyers said he could not have known his actions to subdue Mr Neely would lead to his death.
Mr Neely, who was homeless, was pinned to the ground and restrained for several minutes on the train carriage.
He had been shouting at other passengers and asking for money, witnesses said.
Mr Neely was later found unconscious in the carriage and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death resulted from compression of the neck, the city’s medical examiner ruled.
Hands cuffed behind his back, Mr Penny appeared at Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday to be formally charged and was later released on $100,000 (£80,000) in cash bail.
He must return to court on 17 July or a warrant will be issued for his arrest, the judge said. He must also turn over his passport and seek permission to cross state lines.
On the day Mr Neely died, Mr Penny was questioned by police and then released.
But footage of the altercation on a northbound F train set off protests, and the Manhattan district attorney’s office launched an investigation.
The video, captured by a freelance journalist on the train, shows the former Marine holding Mr Neely around the neck for two minutes and 55 seconds. (BBC)
