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

Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson, is not going to face the demise penalty if convicted on federal fees, a decide dominated Friday. 

Choose Margaret Garnett dismissed the federal firearms fees towards Mangione that carried the potential of the demise penalty, however left in place stalking fees towards him that may convey a most punishment of life in jail. 

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not responsible to each federal and state fees within the 2024 killing of Thompson. 

Jury choice within the federal case is now set to start on September 8, though state prosecutors are looking for to attempt him sooner, as early as July 1. 

Proof from Mangione’s backpack will be admitted

The decide additionally dominated proof seized throughout Mangione’s arrest shall be admissible in his federal trial. 

A 3D-printed handgun, loaded journal, pocket book, map and a “survival equipment” had been present in a backpack that officers recovered from Mangione at the time of his arrest at an Altoona, Penn. McDonald’s. The protection requested the decide to suppress the proof, arguing it was a warrantless search.

Police testified that it is normal process to take property like a backpack from a suspect throughout an arrest. The search of the backpack would have additionally been normal process, officers mentioned. 

Mangione’s legal professional hails “unimaginable resolution”

Mangione’s legal professional Karen Agnifilo reacted to the decide’s ruling, thanking the court docket for “this unimaginable resolution.” 

Agnifilo went on to tank “all of the individuals who come out, stand right here within the chilly and the individuals who cannot come right here, all of the supporters. We get your letters. We get your emails, and we actually admire all of the assist.” 

As for Mangione’s response?

“We’re all very relieved,” Agnifilo mentioned. “We’re ready, and have been ready, to battle this case, and we stay up for combating this case.” 

Mangione again in court docket Friday

The essential rulings got here simply earlier than Mangione appeared in court docket Friday for a listening to concerning his federal case.

Mangione appeared in court docket carrying tan jail clothes. His fingers weren’t shackled. 

Mangione initially confronted a 4 depend federal indictment for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, however his protection group had been combating to dismiss two counts, which the decide has now agreed to. 

“What the federal authorities has finished is that they’ve charged Mangione with stalking, they usually’ve mentioned that could be a the crime of violence. And the protection is saying stalking is just not essentially against the law of violence. It’s a crime, but it surely’s not the type of crime that may underlie the demise penalty,” authorized professional Richard Schoenstein mentioned. Schoenstein is just not instantly concerned within the Mangione case.   

Mangione is accused of gunning Thompson down in December, 2024 exterior a Midtown resort, setting off a frantic manhunt that spanned a number of states. 

Mangione was arrested 5 days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona. 

Manhattan DA needs state trial to start in the summertime

The Manhattan District Legal professional needs the decide in Luigi Mangione’s state trial to set a date for July 1 to make sure it begins earlier than his federal trial.  He faces 9 state counts, together with second diploma homicide and numerous weapons fees. 

Mangione’s attorneys say they want the remainder of the 12 months to arrange for the federal trial. They known as the request unreasonable.

Man makes an attempt to free Mangione

On Wednesday, a Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly impersonating an FBI agent and attempting to free Mangione. 

Prosecutors allege Mark Anderson arrived on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn, the place Mangione is being held, clamed he was an FBI agent with papers from a decide authorizing Mangione’s launch, a federal legislation enforcement supply mentioned. 

A search of Anderson turned up a barbecue fork and pizza cutter. 

He is now being held in the identical advanced as Mangione. 

Learn the decide’s ruling

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