A Judge dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione last Tuesday in connection to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione still faces nine other counts, including a second degree murder charge.
Judge Gregory Carro released a statement with the ruling that although Mangione’s alleged acts were premeditated, he did not intend to influence government policy or incite terror in the public.
“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population,’” he said.
Despite dismissing the state terrorism charges, 27 year old Mangione could still face the death penalty. Mangione also faces state and federal charges for which he’ll be tried separately.
If Mangione is found guilty of second degree murder, he’ll face 25 years to life in prison with possibility of parole. He plead not guilty to all charges.
The defendant’s lawyers claim that Mangione is facing double jeopardy. Carro rejected their request to dismiss the state charges against him, stating that their argument was “premature.”
“This court is not persuaded that proceeding to trial in the state case first will cause the defendant severe prejudice and the defendant’s claim that any state trial testimony will prejudice his federal trial is merely speculative,” Carro wrote.
Despite delivering a blow to the prosecutors’ case, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office accepted the ruling.
“We respect the court’s decision and will proceed on the remaining nine counts, including murder in the second degree.”
Thompson was killed last December by a masked shooter in New York City. Mangione was arrested four days later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after an employee called the police on the suspected shooter who matched photos released by law enforcement.
Mangione is set to appear in court next on Dec. 1 for a pretrial hearing of the case.
Author: Hannah Clove
Photo: Courtesy of Seth Wenig, AP News
Editor: Briar Adams
