Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Aug 18: A New York judge has paused proceedings in Luigi Mangione’s state murder case to give prosecutors time to respond to his lawyers’ bid to have the charges dismissed on double jeopardy grounds.
Mangione is charged with second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan. His trial had been scheduled to begin next month.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro on Monday gave prosecutors until October 9 to respond to a motion filed by Mangione’s lawyers seeking dismissal of the state charges following his guilty plea in a separate federal case involving stalking-related offences.
Mangione is also facing multiple weapons possession charges in the state case and has pleaded not guilty.
His lawyers have argued that continuing the state prosecution after his federal guilty plea would violate protections against double jeopardy. Legal experts told NBC News that New York has a double jeopardy statute considered particularly favourable to defendants, potentially allowing such a challenge even when federal and state charges are not identical.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on Monday. In a statement issued Friday, a spokesperson said prosecutors were prepared to contest the motion and remained committed to seeking justice for Thompson and his family.
A source familiar with the district attorney’s office said prosecutors intended to fight the motion while awaiting the outcome of Mangione’s federal sentencing.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a life sentence. Mangione’s sentencing, to be decided by a judge, is scheduled for December 18.
Justice Carro had previously indicated that Mangione’s double jeopardy argument was premature because the federal case had not yet been resolved.
During a federal court hearing on Friday, Mangione pleaded guilty and described how he planned Thompson’s killing. He admitted shooting Thompson and said his actions were motivated by his experiences with the US healthcare system.
Mangione told the court that he had posed as an investor managing more than $50 billion in assets in an email to UnitedHealthcare executives in an attempt to confirm the location of the investors’ conference attended by Thompson on December 4, 2024.
Thompson was subsequently shot dead on a Manhattan street outside the conference.
Following Mangione’s federal guilty plea, Thompson’s family said they were grateful that the federal justice system had held him accountable and urged the court to impose a sentence reflecting the seriousness of the crime.
Mangione’s attorneys have until October 30 to respond to the prosecutors’ filing. His next state court appearance is scheduled for December 10.