Luigi Mangione’s federal death penalty trial could start before the end of the year
apnews.com
Luigi Mangione’s federal death penalty trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson could begin before the end of the year. U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione returned to federal court Friday for a pivotal hearing in his fight to bar the government from seeking the death penalty against him in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione’s lawyers contend that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his December 2024 arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed even before he was formally indicted.

If that doesn’t work, they argue, the charge that has enabled the government to seek the death penalty — murder by firearm — should be thrown out because it is legally flawed.

Federal prosecutors say Mangione’s lawyers are wrong, countering that the murder charge is legally sufficient and that “pretrial publicity, even when intense” is hardly a constitutional crisis. Any concerns about public perceptions can be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case, prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state murder charges, which carry the possibility of life in prison.

    • mkwt@lemmy.world
      28·
      13 days ago

      A death penalty charge was laughed out of state court. This article is about federal court. Luigi is facing trial simultaneously at both levels.

      The previous hearing on the evidence suppression for 4th and 5th amendment violations was completed in state court. Mangione has to reargue all of those issues again in federal court. And the two court systems could come to different conclusions.

      Plus there are a couple of extra items that are federal only, that the article mentions.

  • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
    12·
    13 days ago

    The real question is, would they be seeking the death penalty if there wasn’t some form of political support for him? I don’t think they would be.

    I don’t think jury nullification should be used lightly. But if the government is trying to kill a guy for political reasons, then it is the most rational choice.

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
    7·
    12 days ago

    This will be interesting as it will set the precedent for when Jonathan Ross is tried. /s