Attorneys representing Luigi Mangione filed a motion on Saturday requesting a New York federal judge to dismiss certain criminal charges, notably the sole count punishable by the death penalty, linked to a federal indictment for the assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
In documents submitted to the Manhattan federal court, they argued that prosecutors should also be barred from presenting Mangione’s law enforcement statements and the contents of his backpack, which contained a firearm and ammunition, during the trial.
The defense contended that Mangione was not informed of his rights prior to questioning by police, who arrested him following the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson as he approached a hotel in Manhattan for an investor event.
Defense attorneys also noted that officers did not obtain a search warrant before inspecting Mangione’s backpack.
At 27 years old, Mangione has pled not guilty to both state and federal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Thompson on December 4, which occurred as the latter was arriving at an annual investor conference for his company.
The incident triggered a cross-state manhunt after the suspected shooter escaped the crime scene and cycled to Central Park before hailing a taxi to a nearby bus station.
Five days later, a tip from staff at a McDonald’s located approximately 233 miles away in Altoona, Pennsylvania, led to Mangione’s arrest.
He has remained in custody without the option of bail since that time.
In a prior filing last month, Mangione’s lawyers advocated for the dismissal of his federal charges and for the death penalty to be removed, citing comments made by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi instructed New York prosecutors in April to pursue the death penalty, describing Thompson’s killing as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
Typically, murder cases are prosecuted in state courts, but authorities have also charged Mangione under a federal statute regarding firearm-related murders committed during “crimes of violence.”
This particular charge is the only one for which Mangione faces the death penalty, as capital punishment is not applicable in New York state.
The legally filed documents from early Saturday morning suggested this charge should be dismissed, claiming prosecutors did not sufficiently specify the related offenses necessary for conviction. They asserted that the asserted underlying offense – stalking – does not qualify as a crime of violence.
The shocking assassination and its fallout have gripped the public, igniting a wave of online backlash against US health insurers and increasing concerns about security among corporate leaders.
After the incident, investigators discovered the phrases “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” written in permanent marker on the ammunition found at the scene, echoing language commonly used by critics of the insurance industry.
