Luigi Mangione to Claim ‘Extreme Emotional Disturbance’ at Trial Over UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killing

Luigi Mangione, who is accused of the 2024 killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, plans to mount a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial, CNN reported on Wednesday, June 17.

New York Judge Gregory Carro announced in court on June 17 that Mangione’s lawyers informed him they will assert that he was suffering from “extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence,” according to the Associated Press.

If the defense is successful, Mangione, 28, could be sent to a psychiatric treatment facility instead of prison and his murder charge would be reduced to first-degree manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Carro shared the update two weeks after a sealed hearing on the new argument was held on Tuesday, June 3. He said he will unseal records from that hearing as well as the defense’s psychiatric materials.

Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo argued that unsealing the transcript and materials would harm her client’s federal case.

“This defense is not available federally and Mr. Mangione is being prosecuted federally and this is prejudicial to his defense to the exact same facts,” she said, according to the Washington Post.

Also during Wednesday’s hearing, Carro dismissed a charge related to a gun magazine, ruling it was inadmissible because it was found during an initial search of Mangione’s backpack at the time of his arrest.

The judge ordered Mangione’s legal team to turn over information regarding his psychiatric condition no later than Thursday, June 18, as per CNN.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in connection with the Wednesday, December 4, 2024, killing of Thompson, 50. His state trial is set to begin on Monday, September 8, while his federal trial is scheduled for Monday, October 13.