I understand that, but what I'm trying to get at is that based on the article you linked, the circumstances surrounding the case you're referring to has literally nothing to do with "political ideas and the machine".

I made no assumption. But your comment’s lack of clarity (and, as you admit, false info) could easily lead anyone who read it to believe that the choice to vacate the first degree murder sentence was a bad (perhaps political?) decision on the part of the DA’s office.

Clearly, the defendant’s lawyers filed an appeal that was ruled favorably upon by the state supreme court. What exactly is your problem with that?

I didn’t say you did.

I only bring that up because the comment you originally replied to was lamenting about the Manhattan DA who charged the bodega worker for acting in self-defense, making your comment seem like this is just yet another example of Manhattan DA incompetence, when by reading the article it's clear it's not that at all.

To answer your second question, there's no guarantee I suppose, but if you read the link you sent, the Bronx DA (who is not in favor of the NY Supreme Court's ruling) said the guy has already been sentenced to 25 to life as part of the second degree murder conviction, and is also charged with conspiracy and gang assault on top of that. Those seem like appropriate charges to me, given what I know, and I expect the total charges will likely extend his sentence to the maximum.

The appellate division of the New York Supreme Court vacated the first degree murder conviction, so no, it was not the city... Again, did you read what you linked?

No one is debating whether or not this was an awful crime. You seem to be mixing up the Manhattan DA with NY state law. The city didn't reduce anything.

Did you not read the article you linked? You make it seem like the guy you mentioned will just walk free. The article says the state literally could not make the legal case for first degree murder (requiring an element of torture), and so the guy will be sentenced for second degree murder. He still faces life in prison.