Mangione lawyers plan psychiatric defense in CEO killing trial

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers plan to argue that he was suffering from an extreme emotional disturbance when he allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street in December 2024, a judge disclosed Wednesday in Manhattan state court.

New York State Judge Gregory Carro said he would unseal a September notice from the defense outlining an affirmative psychiatric defense tied to Mangione’s mental state at the time of the killing. The defense strategy could significantly affect the outcome of the state murder case: if jurors accept that Mangione was emotionally disturbed, he could be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, CBS News reported. NBC News reported that if the psychiatric defense succeeds, Mangione could be sent to a psychiatric facility instead of prison.

Carro said the defense must submit additional documentation on the psychiatric defense by Thursday. “Get it done,” the judge said.

Mangione, 28, appeared in court Wednesday morning wearing a dark navy suit and button-down shirt, according to NBC News. The Guardian reported that he was escorted into court at about 9:47 a.m. in a deep blue suit and pale shirt, without a tie, and restrained with handcuffs.

He faces state charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Thompson, 50, on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. In the state case, The Guardian reported, Mangione faces nine counts including second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty in both his state and federal cases.

The shooting triggered a days-long manhunt that ended with Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where authorities apprehended him. He is also facing federal charges in New York and state charges in Pennsylvania in connection with the case, NBC News reported. If convicted in the New York state case, he faces the possibility of life in prison.

At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors said they would not move forward with count nine of the indictment, a criminal possession of a weapon charge. CBS News reported that the count involved a magazine that had been suppressed by the court. The charge was formally dismissed Wednesday.

The hearing had originally been scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed after prosecutors failed to serve the order required for Mangione to be brought to court. Prosecutor Joel Seidemann told the court, “It’s on us,” according to The Guardian. Defense attorney Karen Agnifilo said after Tuesday’s court appearance, “Mistakes happen. People make mistakes.”

Carro previously ruled that prosecutors may use a gun and a red notebook found on Mangione during his arrest as evidence, NBC News reported.

Mangione’s state trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. The next state court hearing will be held virtually in August. Jury selection in his federal interstate stalking trial is scheduled to start Oct. 5, with opening statements expected either Oct. 26 or Nov. 2, according to CBS News.