Judging by the text bubbles, i.e. “ackkkk”, no he wasn’t, though he was managing to talk.
That aside, prying the arm, not hands, that are wrapped around and circling your neck should result in you effectively applying even more “close windpipe” leverage. “Snap neck” leverage, even. For the story’s sake I can suspend my disbelief but if we’re going to look into it further, no he was screwed with the way he was resisting.
Because of course, who wouldn't be able to see this coming? The classic the important person I was looking for turned out to be our strongest opp trope