Prosecutors in Luigi Mangione case can't seek death penalty, judge rules

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Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson, volition not look the decease punishment if convicted connected national charges, a justice ruled Friday.

Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the national firearms charges against Mangione that carried the anticipation of the decease penalty, but near successful spot stalking charges against him that tin bring a maximum punishment of beingness successful prison.

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not blameworthy to some national and authorities charges successful the 2024 sidesplitting of Thompson.

Jury enactment successful the national lawsuit is present acceptable to statesman connected September 8, though authorities prosecutors are seeking to effort him sooner, arsenic aboriginal arsenic July 1.

Evidence from Mangione's backpack tin beryllium admitted

The justice besides ruled grounds seized during Mangione's apprehension volition beryllium admissible successful his national trial.

A 3D-printed handgun, loaded magazine, notebook, representation and a "survival kit" were recovered successful a backpack that officers recovered from Mangione astatine the clip of his apprehension astatine an Altoona, Penn. McDonald's. The defence asked the justice to suppress the evidence, arguing it was a warrantless search.

Police testified that it's modular process to instrumentality spot similar a backpack from a fishy during an arrest. The hunt of the backpack would person besides been modular procedure, officers said.

Mangione's lawyer hails "incredible decision"

Mangione's lawyer Karen Agnifilo reacted to the judge's ruling, thanking the tribunal for "this unthinkable decision."

Agnifilo went connected to vessel "all the radical who travel out, basal present successful the acold and the radical who can't travel here, each the supporters. We get your letters. We get your emails, and we truly admit each the support."

As for Mangione's reaction?

"We're each precise relieved," Agnifilo said. "We're prepared, and person been prepared, to combat this case, and we look guardant to warring this case."

Mangione backmost successful tribunal Friday

The important rulings came conscionable earlier Mangione appeared successful tribunal Friday for a proceeding regarding his national case.

Mangione appeared successful tribunal wearing tan situation clothing. His hands were not shackled.

Mangione initially faced a 4 number national indictment for the sidesplitting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but his defence squad had been warring to disregard 2 counts, which the justice has present agreed to.

"What the national authorities has done is they've charged Mangione with stalking, and they've said that is simply a the transgression of violence. And the defence is saying stalking is not needfully a transgression of violence. It is simply a crime, but it's not the benignant of transgression that would underlie the decease penalty," ineligible adept Richard Schoenstein said. Schoenstein is not straight progressive successful the Mangione case.

Mangione is accused of gunning Thompson down successful December, 2024 extracurricular a Midtown hotel, mounting disconnected a frantic manhunt that spanned respective states.

Mangione was arrested 5 days aboriginal astatine a McDonald's successful Altoona.

Manhattan DA wants authorities proceedings to statesman successful the summer

The Manhattan District Attorney wants the justice successful Luigi Mangione's authorities proceedings to set a day for July 1 to guarantee it starts earlier his national trial. He faces 9 authorities counts, including 2nd grade execution and assorted weapons charges.

Mangione's attorneys accidental they request the remainder of the twelvemonth to hole for the national trial. They called the petition unreasonable.

Man attempts to escaped Mangione

On Wednesday, a Minnesota antheral was arrested for allegedly impersonating an FBI cause and trying to escaped Mangione.

Prosecutors allege Mark Anderson arrived astatine the Metropolitan Detention Center successful Brooklyn, wherever Mangione is being held, clamed helium was an FBI cause with papers from a justice authorizing Mangione's release, a national instrumentality enforcement root said.