Defendant is accused of murdering Brian Thompson, former CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in December 2024
A federal district judge ruled, this Friday (30), that Luigi Mangione cannot be sentenced to death for the murder of Brian Thompson, former CEO of UnitedHealthcare, which occurred in December 2024.
Judge Margaret Garnett’s decision goes against the efforts of federal prosecutors, who were seeking the defendant’s execution. Mangione is accused of shoot the executive to death in front of a hotel in Manhattan, a crime that led to great repercussion us United States.
In addition to ruling out the possibility of the death penalty, Judge Garnett issued another ruling that allows evidence found in Mangione’s backpack at the time of his arrest be used in the trial.
Among the items seized by the police and accepted by the court are a pistol, a loaded loader e a red notebook. For authorities, these pieces are essential in linking the suspect to the crime.
Mangione’s defense tried to block the use of these objects, arguing that the search of the backpack would have been illegal because it had occurred without a judicial warrant and without the existence of an immediate threat that would justify the search. However, the judge rejected the defense’s argument, maintaining the evidence in the case.
The case is still pending in federal court in New York. Mangione’s trial is expected to take place later this year.
