In brief
In a New York court hearing, attorneys for Luigi Mangione announced they will present a psychiatric defence based on extreme emotional disturbance. Judge Gregory Carro confirmed the plan and stated court records would be unsealed. If the jury accepts the defence, Mangione could be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. The state trial is scheduled to begin on 8 September, while Mangione also faces federal stalking charges that could lead to a life sentence.
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, will argue a psychiatric defence at his state murder trial, judge said on Wednesday.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, Mangione’s lawyers have told Judge Gregory Carro that they will try to show he suffered from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence.
He has pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases against him for the shooting death of Thompson in midtown Manhattan at the end of 2024.
If a jury accepts the psychiatric defence, he could be convicted of manslaughter instead of murder.
The judge announced he would unseal court records related to the defence plan, according to CBS.
Mangione was in the New York courtroom on Wednesday for the discussion, images show. He was scheduled to be in court on Tuesday, but that appearance was cancelled due to a reported mistake by the prosecution.
The state trial is set to begin on 8 September.
Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, also faces federal stalking charges, which can bring a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Federal murder and firearms charges against him were dropped earlier this year.
Thompson, a 50‑year‑old father of two, was shot from behind by a masked gunman on 4 December 2024, as he walked into a Manhattan hotel for an annual investor conference.
