Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old man, appeared in a New York state court on Tuesday. He is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the former CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a large health insurance company. Mangione’s lawyers asked the court to throw out the state murder charges against him. They say he should not face two trials for the same crime — one in state court, and another in federal court. This legal question is called “double jeopardy,” which means a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime.
Brian Thompson was shot and killed on December 4, 2024, outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan while attending a conference for UnitedHealthcare investors. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police arrested Mangione five days later in Pennsylvania at a McDonald's restaurant. He was taken quickly to New York and has been held in custody since then.
During the court session, Mangione’s lawyers asked that the state charges be dismissed. They argue that Mangione cannot defend himself properly with two lawsuits happening at the same time—one by the state and one by federal authorities. The state charges include murder as an act of terrorism, claiming Mangione wanted to scare workers and investors in the insurance industry. The federal case accuses Mangione of stalking Thompson across state lines before killing him and uses different legal arguments.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both the state and federal charges. The defense also requested that evidence collected during Mangione’s arrest, like a handgun and a notebook with writings about his intentions, not be used in court.
Mangione has gained some support from people who are angry about the high costs of healthcare in the U.S. His supporters have worn green clothing and held signs at his hearings. Since his arrest, an online fundraising campaign for his defense has collected over $1.2 million, with many small donations.
However, many officials and politicians from both parties have condemned the killing of Brian Thompson. The U.S. Attorney General has said the government will seek the death penalty for Mangione, calling Thompson’s murder a “cold-blooded assassination.”
The judge in charge, Gregory Carro, will decide if the state case should move forward or if it should be dropped because of the federal case. If the state trial goes ahead first, Mangione’s lawyers asked that terrorism-related charges be removed and evidence from the arrest be excluded.
Mangione’s legal team also raised concerns that a high-profile state trial could make it harder to have a fair federal trial later because of publicity and public opinion.
According to court documents, Mangione arrived in New York City on November 24, 2024, using a fake ID. He stayed at a hostel on the Upper West Side and extended his stay several times, raising suspicions. On the morning of December 4, Mangione left his hostel and traveled to Midtown Manhattan where he shot Thompson.
No trial dates have been set yet for either the state or federal cases. The judge may make rulings on the defense motions during upcoming hearings. Both state and federal prosecutors want the cases to proceed, but Mangione’s defense argues that defending against both together is unfair and unconstitutional.
Luigi Mangione appears in court over murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO. Lawyers seek to dismiss state c
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