CURTIS MEANS / EPA
Luigi Mangione, this Monday, at the hearing at the Supreme Court of the State of New York
The suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has pleaded not guilty to murder and terrorism charges in a state trial that will run parallel to his federal case.
26, was formally charged by the Manhattan District Attorney with multiple crimes of murderincluding homicide as an act of terrorism.
His initial appearance in New York state court was brought forward by the filing of charges by federal prosecutors in connection with the shooting.
The maximum penalty for state charges is life sentence without parole, but the federal charges he faces could carry the possibility of death penalty.
Public prosecutors stated that the two processes will take place in parallel, with state charges expected to be judged first.
Mangione declares himself innocent
According to authorities, Mangione accused of shooting Brian Thompson to deathchief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, as he headed to an investor conference in lower Manhattan on the morning of December 4.
According to police, Mangione was detained at a McDonald’s in the state of Pennsylvania, after five days of searches, and had with him a weapon that matched the one used in the shooting and a false identity card.
According to federal prosecutors, Mangione also had a notebook in which he expressed a hostile position towards the insurance sector healthcare and, in particular, towards the wealthiest executives.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the gravity of a “terrifying, well-planned and well-directed murder that intended to cause shock, attention and intimidation”, during a press conference on the 17th, during which the state charges were announced.
Contradictory legal theories?
Karen Friedman AgnifiloMangione’s lawyer, accused federal and state prosecutors of presenting contradictory legal theories, criticizing his “very confusing” and “highly unusual” approach.
Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn, New York, federal prison along with several other high-profile defendants, including and .
Graduated in computer engineering from one of the universities of Ivy-leaguethe University of Pennsylvania, and hailing from Maryland, Mangione has distanced himself from his family and friends in recent months.
During this period, Mangione, who, according to the insurer, was never a UnitedHealthcare customer, frequently posted in online forums about his fight against back pain.
Brian Thompson He was married with two children and worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years, becoming CEO of the insurance industry in 2021.
The murder prompted several people to express their resentment against US health insurers, with Mangione serving as a proxy for frustrations over denials of coverage and high medical bills.
The crime sent shockwaves through the business world, rattling executives who say they have received an increase in threats.
