In a recent court session in Manhattan, Luigi Mangione showed up facing some serious allegations, but surprisingly, two of the state terrorism charges against him were thrown out. This happened during a pre-trial hearing for the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione was seen entering the Manhattan Criminal Court in tan prison gear, complete with shackles, around 9:30 a.m. The packed courtroom contained members of the press and the public, while outside, a supportive crowd held signs and voiced chants.
Upon entering, Mangione only glanced briefly at the audience in the back, maintaining a straight ahead focus. As he exited, he acknowledged supporters, raising his eyebrows as he passed each group.
After the hearing, his supporters followed his attorneys down the street.
Terrorism Charges Struck Off for Mangione
At just 27 years old, Mangione still faces significant charges, including second-degree murder after the tragic death of Thompson, who was a devoted family man, last December, right outside a Manhattan hotel. Charges from the state included 11 counts that encompassed murder and terrorism, while the federal case might even lead to capital punishment.
Mangione’s defense team has been actively working to dismiss the state charges, claiming that facing them and the federal ones simultaneously is essentially double jeopardy. In a ruling issued on Tuesday, Judge Gregory Carro denied that request in a written decision.
The defense team’s attempts to have the terrorism charges dropped were also rejected, despite their argument that such charges didn’t fit the situation. Prosecutors contended that Mangione’s actions were aimed at sending a “social and political message” with terror tactics.
The judge described the two terrorism charges — murder in the first degree along with murder in the second degree as part of terrorist activity — as “legally insufficient.” He emphasized, “There wasn’t any evidence suggesting a plan to terrorize the public, incite fear, or engage in violent acts related to organized terrorist groups.” The case of the murder victim was too targeted and specific, diverging from the broader definitions of terrorism.
Remaining Charges for Mangione
Despite the dismissal of the terrorism charges, Mangione still faces a tough road ahead with second-degree murder and eight other weapon-related charges in the ongoing state case. If found guilty on the primary charge, he could face 25 years to life imprisonment. Mangione continues to plead not guilty to the entire case.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office issued a statement respecting the court’s decisions, confirming their intention to pursue the remaining nine counts, which prominently includes murder in the second degree.
Furthermore, his defense is pushing for evidence obtained from Mangione’s backpack, which housed a gun and notebook, to be suppressed due to alleged violations of search and seizure laws during the police investigation. Prosecutors, however, contest these claims and are requesting the court to require Mangione’s lawyers to clarify if they plan to use insanity defenses or present any psychiatric evidence.
While the judge didn’t make any decisions on these defense requests during the Tuesday hearing, he announced that hearings would be starting on December 1. These will determine what police statements and physical evidence may be admissible in court, alongside potential non-witness testimonies.
