New York (AFP) – A New York court on Wednesday postponed by three months the first trial of Luigi Mangione, accused of gunning down a health insurance CEO in Manhattan, amid a spat between lawyers over tight scheduling. The state trial had been set for June 8 but, following an order by Judge Gregory Carro, it will now begin on September 8 for a jury to decide if Mangione is guilty of murder.
Earlier Wednesday, another US judge pushed back Mangione’s federal trial by a month to October after the defense argued there was not enough time to prepare for that case. It is possible, however, the federal case will be further postponed in light of the new state trial date. Defendants in the United States can be tried at both the state and federal level for the same crime, although the charges tend to differ — as they do for Mangione.
The December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, captured on surveillance video, shocked the United States and highlighted deep public anger with the country’s private health care system. Five days after the killing, Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, 230 miles (370 kilometers) from the crime scene, following a tip from a staff member.
At the state level, he is charged with murder and could face life imprisonment without parole if convicted. In federal court, he is charged with two counts of interstate stalking and risks the same punishment. Mangione’s lawyers requested delays in both the federal and state trials as they argued the tight turnaround would make it impossible to prepare adequately.
© 2024 AFP
