In a shocking turn of events, a judge in New York has reportedly made a significant ruling in the case of Luigi Mangione. On January 30, the U.S. federal judge dismissed the charges against Mangione, sparing him the death penalty. The decision comes as a significant blow to federal prosecutors who had sought capital punishment.
Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty
Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will no longer face the death penalty after a judge dismissed murder and weapons charges. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett in Manhattan dropped the murder charge against Mangione, citing Supreme Court precedents and incompatibility with the stalking charges he still faces. Judge Garnett said she was constrained by legal guidelines, sparing the 27-year-old accused of the death penalty.
The prosecution reportedly had sought the death penalty, arguing that Mangione’s actions were “a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.” However, the judge ruled that the stalking charges did not amount to “crimes of violence” required to support the murder charge, as they weren’t “inherently” violent or always intentional. Judge Garnett also acknowledged that the decision might seem counterintuitive to the public.
Mangione still has murder charges pending in a separate state case. The judge dismissed the federal charges because they needed to be tied to another violent crime. However, stalking doesn’t qualify as that. Additionally, he still faces two federal counts of stalking, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. As per CNN, the state trial has not been scheduled yet, but the federal trial is set to begin with jury selection on September 8. It will be succeeded by opening statements on October 13.
After the hearing, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Agnifilo, thanked the judge, calling the decision “incredible.” When asked about her clients’ reaction, she said, they were all “relieved.” Meanwhile, federal prosecutor Dominic Gentile told Judge Garnett that they are still deciding on an appeal.
UnitedHealth Group’s health insurance chief, Thompson, was killed on December 4, 2024, outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. Mangione, who’s been jailed since his arrest, pleaded not guilty to charges related to Thompson’s death.
