A Manhattan court has dismissed all assault charges against Nassadir Tate, a 21-year-old part-time model, following the death of Johnson Eweka after a confrontation on a Penn Station subway platform. Prosecutors concluded that Tate’s single punch was justified self-defence, after reviewing surveillance footage, witness accounts, the autopsy and Tate’s police statement.

The incident began on 14 March after Tate bumped into 55-year-old Eweka, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Footage reportedly showed Eweka pushing Tate, blocking his path, removing his jacket and adopting a fighting stance before Tate struck him once; Eweka collapsed about two minutes later and died in hospital. An autopsy found that a ruptured cerebral artery aneurysm, occurring after the punch, caused Eweka’s death.