Luigi Mangione’s Lawyers Will Argue Psychiatric Defence in Brian Thompson Murder Trial
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, the individual accused of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson, are preparing to argue a psychiatric defence at his forthcoming state murder trial.
Judge Gregory Carro confirmed on Wednesday that Mangione's legal team intends to demonstrate that he was experiencing "extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence". This defence strategy could lead to a manslaughter conviction rather than murder, should a jury accept the argument. Mangione has entered a plea of not guilty in both the federal and state proceedings related to Thompson’s death.
Court records pertaining to the defence's plan are set to be unsealed by the judge. Mangione was present in the New York courtroom for Wednesday's discussion, following a cancelled appearance the previous day due to what was described as a prosecutorial error.
The state trial is scheduled to commence on 8 September. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, also faces federal stalking charges, which carry a potential life sentence. Earlier this year, federal murder and firearms charges against him were withdrawn.
Thompson, 50, was shot from behind by a masked assailant on 4 December 2024, as he entered a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference.
