A judge in New York state has dismissed two terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, who allegedly killed the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro also ruled a charge of second-degree murder against Mangione could stand during a hearing on Tuesday morning.
He will still face trial for murder in the second degree of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in December 2024. Mangione is accused with shooting and killing Thompson outside of a hotel in Manhattan where UnitedHealthcare was holding an investor conference.
In addition to the state charges, Mangione is also facing murder charges in federal court, for which prosecutors can seek the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty.
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Luigi Mangione secures big win Judge Gregory Carro said that while the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law does not classify something an act as terrorism just because it is driven by ideology.
“While the defendant was clearly expressing an animus toward UHC, and the health care industry generally, it does not follow that his goal was to ‘intimidate and coerce a civilian population,’ and indeed, there was no evidence presented of such a goal,” Carro rulled.
Prosecutors said they would, “proceed on the remaining nine counts.”
Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on a busy Manhattan street in broad daylight December last year. Mangione’s defense team in May had sought to dismiss all of the state charges, arguing his rights had been violated and the state has presented insufficient evidence to a grand jury.
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