Luigi Mangione talking along with his legal professional Karen Agnifilo in Manhattan Prison Courtroom on December 12, 2025 in New York Metropolis.
Curtis Means/Pool/Getty Pictures
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Curtis Means/Pool/Getty Pictures
NEW YORK — On Friday a federal choose dropped two of the 4 expenses towards Luigi Mangione — the person accused of fatally taking pictures UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — making his case now not eligible for the loss of life penalty. Mangione is accused of killing Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024 on a road in midtown Manhattan as he was strolling to his lodge for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor convention. Police say the phrases “delay,” “deny” and “depose” have been written on the ammunition used, referencing a phrase used to explain how insurers keep away from paying claims.
The fees of homicide by way of use of a firearm (which made the case capital eligible) and a firearms offense have been dropped, whereas two interstate stalking expenses stay.
If discovered responsible, the utmost sentence he now faces is life with out the potential for parole.
The federal authorities has known as the killing a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Federal prosecutors have thirty days to determine whether or not they are going to enchantment.
Mangione’s legal professional, Karen Agnifilo thanked the court docket for what she known as an “unimaginable determination” when talking to reporters outdoors the courthouse following Friday’s listening to. “We’re all very relieved,” she mentioned. “We’re ready and have been ready to combat this case, and we sit up for combating this case.”
Along with the federal case towards him, Mangione will probably be tried in New York State the place he faces expenses of homicide, legal possession of a weapon and possession of a cast instrument. These expenses carry a most penalty of 15 years to life in jail.
Concerning the dropped expenses within the federal case, Choose Garnett acknowledged in her written opinion that the Supreme Courtroom precedent round this isn’t all the time clear. She said that the evaluation might strike individuals as, “tortured and unusual,” however that the choice mirrored her dedication to faithfully apply the rule of legislation.
Whereas her determination is a big win for the protection, there was a second order issued on Friday during which Choose Margaret Garnett dominated for the prosecution when she determined that Mangione’s backpack and its contents — that are key items of proof — are admissible in his federal trial.
Mangione’s attorneys have argued that this stuff — together with a handgun, silencer, iPhone, and a purple pocket book with writing inside — must be suppressed and never be admissible, as a result of officers didn’t have a search warrant.
However Choose Garnett wrote that, “Such a search was affordable below the details of this case.”
The choose in New York state court docket nonetheless has not issued a ruling on whether or not or not this stuff will probably be admissible in that case.
Jury choice for Mangione’s federal trial is scheduled to start in September, although the timeline may change if the prosecution appeals the choose’s determination on the 2 counts dismissed this week.
Due to the excessive profile nature of the case, each units of attorneys have requested for an extended than normal size of time for the jury choice course of. Tons of of potential jurors will probably be given a questionnaire as a part of a pre-screening course of, and either side will want time to assessment them earlier than transferring to subsequent phases of jury choice.
