In a key shift ahead of a closely watched New York murder trial, Luigi Mangione is—for now—pulling back from a defense that he was in the throes of an extreme mental health crisis at the time of the alleged shooting, according to a court filing.
Mr Mangione, 28, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel in Midtown in December 2024.
He pleaded not guilty in December 2024 to murder, weapons and forgery charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
His trial is set for September before Justice Gregory Carro in Manhattan.
In a letter to Judge Carro, Mr Mangione’s lawyers said they were “at this time” withdrawing plans to introduce evidence at trial that Mr Mangione had undergone an extreme mental health crisis.
Under New York law, murder defendants can seek to convince a jury that their actions can be explained by an “extreme emotional disturbance” that reduces their criminal culpability.
The approach can open a path for jurors to opt for a lesser verdict—reducing murder charges to manslaughter, which does not carry the possibility of a life sentence.
Legal experts said it could be difficult for Mr Mangione to prevail with the defence due to evidence that he carefully planned the killing and evaded capture afterwards.
Judge Carro would ultimately decide at trial whether there was enough evidence for the murder charge to be reduced.
Mr Thompson led UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit before he was shot dead outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference.
Mr Mangione was eventually arrested in Pennsylvania.
He has separately pleaded not guilty in April 2025 to murder, weapons and stalking charges brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors.
A judge threw out the murder and weapons charges over legal technicalities in a surprise ruling in January.
That decision eliminated the possibility that Mr Mangione would face the death penalty, though he still faces a possible sentence of life without parole if convicted of stalking.
Jury selection in that case is set to begin in September, and opening statements in the trial are scheduled for November.
