This past Friday, Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect in the murder case of UnitedHealth’s CEO Brian Thompson a year ago, returned to federal court in a crucial hearing to block the government’s attempt to seek the death penalty against him. The judge stated that a ruling would be issued in written form later on; or jury selection may commence in September.
As the back door of the courtroom opened, 27-year-old Mangione, dressed in a pale yellow olive prison uniform, was escorted by 5 or 6 marshals and seated at the defendant’s table. He occasionally took notes or sipped water from a bottle.
The morning’s arguments focused on the legality of the procedures when Mangione was arrested by the police.
Mangione’s lawyer requested the judge to prohibit the government from using certain items found in his backpack at the time of arrest, including a gun said to match the one used to kill Thompson and a notebook allegedly describing Mangione’s intention to “take out” a healthcare company executive.
The defense argued that the search conducted by the police without a warrant was unlawful and called for a hearing on this matter.
However, the request for a hearing was rejected by Judge Margaret Garnett.
Mangione’s lawyer argued that the authorities had turned his arrest in December 2024 into a “Marvel movie” type spectacle and openly expressed a desire to execute him before he was formally charged, which damaged his interests.
Therefore, the defense attorney claimed that based on the government’s misconduct, the government’s charges seeking the death penalty for “using a firearm to commit murder” should be dismissed due to legal deficiencies.
However, the federal prosecutors rebutted, stating that Mangione’s lawyer’s arguments were wrong and they believed the murder charges were legally sufficient.
Mangione pleaded not guilty to the 9 federal and state charges brought against him, including second-degree murder and multiple weapon charges.
Judge Garnett stated that jury selection would begin in September of this year, but was unsure if that date could be met.
Mangione’s case has sparked widespread attention from those who are dissatisfied with the health insurance industry, with dozens of supporters gathering outside the courthouse once again. Some wore green clothes and held banners saying “Free Luigi” and “Luigi Mangione should not be sentenced to death.”
On December 4, 2024, Mangione shot and killed UnitedHealth’s CEO Thompson in front of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, with the bullets inscribed with phrases like “delay,” “deny,” and “testify,” mimicking the insurance company’s strategies to evade compensation.