Luigi Mangione’s state murder trial delayed until September, throwing federal trial into question

NEW YORK – A New York state judge on April 1 delayed Luigi Mangione’s trial on charges of murdering a health insurance executive to Sept 8, throwing into question the timing of a parallel federal trial.

In a brief written order, Justice Gregory Carro in Manhattan pushed Mangione’s trial start date back from June 8. He did not specify a reason, but the judge had expressed frustration during a Feb 6 hearing that federal prosecutors had “reneged” on a promise to let state prosecutors go to trial first.

Hours earlier, US District Judge Margaret Garnett, who is overseeing Mangione’s federal trial on stalking charges stemming from the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pushed back by a few weeks the start of that trial to Oct 13.

Mangione’s state court trial is expected to last six weeks, defence lawyer Karen Friedman-Agnifilo said at a hearing before Judge Garnett on April 1.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At the February hearing, while being led out of the courtroom in prison garb and shackles, Mangione said it was unfair that he was being exposed to two trials over the same alleged offence.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which brought the state charges, declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Manhattan US Attorney’s office, which brought the federal charges, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mangione has been jailed since his arrest in Pennsylvania five days after the shooting of Mr Thompson, who led UnitedHealth Group’s health insurance business, outside a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Death penalty off the table

Mangione initially faced a possible death sentence in the federal case. That was taken off the table in January, when judge Garnett dismissed the federal murder charge he faced. Judge Garnett called that charge legally incompatible with the two stalking charges he still faces. Federal murder statutes carry different legal requirements than comparable state laws.

Mangione could still face a life sentence if convicted of the federal stalking charges, and 25 years to life in prison if found guilty at the state trial.

While public officials widely condemned Mr Thompson’s killing, Mangione became a folk hero of sorts to some Americans who decry high costs for US medical care and health insurer practices.

“Your honour need only look out the window to see the people who follow this defendant and believe that what he did was right,” prosecutor Dominic Gentile said.

Roughly a dozen supporters gathered on April 1 outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan, including one woman wearing a pink shirt depicting Mangione’s face inside a heart shape. REUTERS