Luigi Mangione Seeks Dismissal of State Murder Case, Citing Double Jeopardy in UnitedHealthcare Killing

NEW YORK (AP) — Attorneys for Luigi Mangione asked a judge on Thursday to dismiss the state's murder charges related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson arguing that the New York case along with a concurrent federal death penalty trial constitute double jeopardy.

If that does not occur, they seek to have the terrorism charges dropped and prohibit prosecutors from utilizing evidence gathered during Mangione’s arrest in December, including a 9 mm handgun , ammunition, and a notebook where officials claim he detailed his plan to "wack" an insurance executive.

Mangione’s attorneys aim to keep out of court any remarks he made to law enforcement officials when they apprehended him at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. This location is approximately 230 miles (or about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, following a manhunt lasting five days.

In addition, according to prosecutors, the Ivy League-educated individual apologized to law enforcement officials "for the disruption caused during the day" and showed worry for a McDonald's staff member who informed authorities about his location, stating: “Many people will be displeased upon learning of my arrest.”

The incident on December 4th, where Thompson was killed outside a Manhattan hotel, has sparked a legal dispute between state and federal prosecutors over who will determine the future of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione. This contention is detailed in a comprehensive 57-page court submission authored by his attorneys: Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan.

They referred to the combined dual state and federal cases along with a separate one in Pennsylvania concerning firearm possession and additional charges as "an unprecedented escalation in prosecution." They mentioned that prosecutors appear to be attempting "to secure multiple opportunities to obtain a conviction against Mr. Mangione" for murder.

"Nevertheless, even with such severe implications for Mr. Mangione, law enforcement has deliberately and systematically violated his constitutional rights," his attorneys stated. They claim that officials interrogated him without informing him of his right to remain silent and conducted searches of his property without obtaining a warrant.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office stated they would reply through legal documents.

The defense team's request to terminate or restrict Mangione’s proceedings at the state level might foreshadow their approach in his upcoming federal murder trial, where prosecutors plan to pursue capital punishment. It should be noted that under the state charges, the most severe consequence he faces is life imprisonment.

Mangione, turning 27 on Tuesday, has entered pleas of not guilty in both cases. Since his arrest led to his swift transfer to New York via plane and helicopter, he has remained detained at a Brooklyn federal jail.

Mangione will return to court for the state case on June 26, where Judge Gregory Carro is anticipated to decide on the motion to dismiss. His upcoming federal court appearance is scheduled for December 5, which falls just a day following the first year since Thompson passed away. A trial date remains unestablished in both legal proceedings.

The prosecutors anticipated that the state proceedings would head to trial initially. However, Friedman Agnifilo stated last week that her preference is for the federal case to be prioritized due to its involvement with the death penalty.

In addition to attempting to have the state case dismissed, Mangione’s attorneys also requested that Carro reject accusations claiming he murdered someone "as part of terrorist activities” and labeled his actions as acts of terror. The defense contends there are “no factual grounds whatsoever to back up such claims,” and they assert that indicting their client under a post-9/11 anti-terrorism law goes against what legislators intended.

The surveillance footage revealed a masked shooter firing at Thompson from behind when he reached the site of UnitedHealthcare’s yearly investor gathering. Authorities mention that "delay," "deny," and "depose" were inscribed on the bullets, echoing a term frequently utilized to characterize How insurance companies dodge claim payments .

The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, stated that the ambush "was meant to instill fear."

Mangione faces federal accusations that encompass murdering someone using a firearm, a charge that could result in the death penalty, as well as two counts of stalking and one firearms violation.

Last month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that she had instructed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to pursue the death penalty for the crime, describing it as "an act of political violence" and a "cold-blooded, premeditated assassination that stunned the nation."

The murder and subsequent manhunt that led to Mangione’s apprehension shook the business world while also energizing critics of health insurance, who united behind Mangione. as a stand-in For issues regarding denied coverage and large medical bills.

In their submission on Thursday, Mangione’s attorneys contended that the opposing arguments in the state and federal cases—aiming to “intimidate or coerce a civilian population” versus pursuing an individual case of harassment—have resulted in a "complex legal predicament." This situation renders it both legally and practically unfeasible to mount a defense against these charges at the same time.

"The constitutional implications of this scenario are so complex that it is difficult to locate a comparable historical example for such an unparalleled circumstance," Mangione’s attorneys stated.