"There never should have been a trial" - Phil Mickelson reacts to the Daniel Penny case verdict

Phil Mickelson has shared his take on the recently concluded Daniel Penny trial.

After Penny was found innocent in the case of Jordan Neely's death, the LIV golf star took to social media to express his thoughts.

Mickelson is staunchly in support of the ruling:

"Finally a little common sense. There never should have been a trial. He should be commended for selfless actions to protect the other passengers and those who brought charges should be out of a job."

Penny, a veteran of the United States Marines, used a chokehold on Neely, a seemingly agitated homeless man riding the subway. The incident took place in May 2023. Neely's death sparked a trial when criminal charges were brought up against Penny.

The Manhattan jury cleared Penny of criminally negligent homicide. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed after the jury could not break a tie on that decision.

Mickelson, who has been following the news closely, believes the jury made the right decision and expressed his frustration with those who brought the charges against the veteran in the first place.

The jury began deliberating on Tuesday before coming to a conclusion. The decision and the prior court case were divisive politically, as the AP reported that prominent Republican lawmakers hailed Penny as a hero while Democratic politicians attended the funeral for Neely. The case raised questions about topics like race, privilege, public safety, mental health, and morality throughout the country.

“It really, really hurts,” said Neely's father Andre Zachery after the judgment. “I had enough of this. The system is rigged.”

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Phil Mickelson's "random thoughts" recently included a Daniel Penny take

This was not the first time Daniel Penny was brought up by Phil Mickelson. On Sunday evening, Mickelson took to X once again to deliver a series of opinions he was having. Among them was a take on the Sunday Night Football game and the veteran's trial.

Phil Mickelson commended Daniel Penny (Image via Imagn)

He complimented Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth by saying:

"Random thoughts Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are great in the booth. ‘Day of the Jackal’ is an incredible show. If a deranged individual threatens to kill you let’s hope there’s a Daniel Penny around."

He also thanked Penny for "serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual" referring to Neely, who passed away.