Two major state charges against Luigi Mangione, accused in UnitedHealth CEO killing were dismissed on Tuesday. The state charges against him were first-degree murder and second-degree murder, which prosecutors had argued were terrorism-related offences.
Mangione still faces an additional second-degree murder charge, along with a federal murder charge, in connection with the December killing of United HealthCare executive Brian Thompson.
Judge Gregory Carro, who is overseeing Mangione’s state case, issued his ruling in a written decision after a brief 15-minute proceeding in Manhattan court on Tuesday.
Why did the court drop terrorism charges?
“Counts 1 and 2, charging defendant with Murder in the First Degree (in furtherance of an act of terrorism) and Murder in the Second Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, are dismissed as legally insufficient,” Judge Carro stated. “The People presented legally sufficient evidence of all other counts, including Murder in the Second Degree (intentional).”
He now faces a revised sentence in the state case. He was previously facing 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
However, with recent developments, Mangione now faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted on the state charges.
The judge in the state case has scheduled a hearing for December 1, but a trial date has not yet been set. Mangione still faces separate federal charges, which carry the potential for the death penalty.
These federal charges stem from the killing of Thompson, a former CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s UnitedHealthcare insurance unit.
While the terrorism charges were dismissed at the state level, they do not affect the ongoing federal case, where Mangione could still face capital punishment.
Death of Brian Thompson
The case became highly publicised following the shooting death of Brian Thompson on December 4 outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Thompson had been scheduled to speak at an investor conference hosted by UnitedHealth Group.
Mangione was arrested days later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after an employee tipped off authorities.
His arrest was carried out in a highly unusual and public manner, with police transporting him back to New York in a heavily secured fashion.
After his arrival, he was escorted by helicopter, where he was met by armed police, Mayor Eric Adams, and TV cameras.
At his most recent court appearance, Mangione was handcuffed and shackled, wearing tan prison garb. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both the state and federal charges.