Key facts
- Luigi Mangione's lawyers have withdrawn their planned psychiatric defense of extreme emotional distress.
- The defense aimed to argue Mangione suffered from extreme emotional disturbance when killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
- This defense could have potentially reduced murder charges to manslaughter.
- Mangione faces separate state and federal charges.
- The Trump administration had previously sought the death penalty for Mangione, though a federal judge dismissed this charge.
Luigi Mangione, accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will not pursue a psychiatric defense in his state murder trial. His lawyers informed Judge Gregory Carro on Friday that they are withdrawing the notice to assert claims of extreme emotional disturbance.
This reversal comes after Mangione's legal team indicated they would use his "manifesto" and alleged mental state to argue for a downgrade from murder to manslaughter charges. The defense had faced a deadline to provide prosecutors with supporting information for the emotional disturbance claim.
If the defense had proceeded, it would have meant Mangione effectively admitting to killing Thompson but doing so under mitigating circumstances. While not absolving him of responsibility, this could have led to a lesser prison sentence than the potential life sentence for murder.
Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges. His state trial is scheduled to begin September 8, with his federal trial for stalking charges set for October 13. A transcript of a secret hearing on the psychiatric defense was unsealed, revealing concerns from Mangione's lawyers about potential prejudice to his federal case, where such a defense is not permitted.
The Trump administration had previously sought the death penalty for Mangione, but a federal judge dismissed that charge due to technical flaws. Thompson, 50, was shot from behind while walking to an investor conference. Evidence presented by prosecutors includes a 3D-printed pistol matching the murder weapon and a notebook detailing alleged motives against the health insurance industry.