A subway commuter who helped an ex-Marine restrain an agitated man aboard a Manhattan subway last year testified that he tried to convince the veteran to loosen his grip around the man’s neck.

Eric Gonzalez, who helped Daniel Penny pin Mr. Neely to the floor of a subway car, also said he had lied when he told investigators Mr. Neely had hit him.

Daniel Penny has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide following a May 2023 incident on a New York City subway resulting in the death of Jordan Neely.