Luigi Mangione denies assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO

The person accused of fatally taking pictures UnitedHealthcare’s chief government has pleaded not responsible to homicide and terrorism fees in a state case that can run parallel to his federal prosecution.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan courtroom when he leaned right into a microphone to make his case for the homicide of Brian Thompson.

He was formally charged final week by the Manhattan District Legal professional with a number of counts of homicide, together with homicide as an act of terrorism.

Mangione’s preliminary look in New York state Justice of the Peace courtroom was canceled by federal prosecutors who filed their very own fees within the taking pictures.

The federal fees might carry the demise penalty, whereas the utmost sentence for the state fees is life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.

Prosecutors stated the 2 instances would comply with parallel tracks, with the state fees to be tried first.

Certainly one of Mangione’s legal professionals advised the decide that authorities officers, together with New York Mayor Eric Adams, had turned the defendant right into a political pawn, disenfranchising him as a defendant and tainting the composition of jurors.

“I’m very involved about my shopper’s proper to a good trial,” Karen Friedman Agnifilo stated.

“He’s a younger man,” she stated. “He’s being handled like a human ping-pong ball between warring jurisdictions right here. »

State Trial Courtroom Decide Gregory Carro responded that he had little management over what occurs exterior the courtroom, however stated he might assure that Mangione would profit from a good trial.

Authorities say Mangione shot Mr. Thompson on his option to an buyers convention in midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4.

Mangione was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun matching the one used within the taking pictures and a faux ID, police stated. He additionally carried a pocket book expressing hostility towards the medical insurance trade and significantly rich executives, in line with federal prosecutors.

At a information convention saying the state’s fees Tuesday, Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg stated the applying of the terrorism legislation mirrored the seriousness of a “scary, well-planned homicide.” and focused, meant to trigger shock, consideration and intimidation.”

“In its most simple phrases, this was a homicide meant to instill terror,” he added. “And we noticed that response.”

Mangione was extradited from Pennsylvania on Thursday and rapidly transported to New York, the place he was seen carrying an orange jumpsuit as he was taken from a helicopter by closely armed law enforcement officials and New York Mayor Eric Adams.

Mr. Thompson, married with two kids, had labored on the large UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and have become chief government of its insurance coverage arm in 2021.

The killing prompted some to specific resentment towards U.S. well being insurers, with Mangione serving as a surrogate for frustrations over protection denials and hefty medical payments.

It additionally despatched shock waves via the enterprise world, shaking executives who say they’ve obtained a rise in threats.