In a recent hearing, Luigi Mangione’s defense team announced they will use a psychiatric defense, claiming he was suffering extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the shooting that killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
If the jury accepts this angle, Mangione could be convicted of manslaughter instead of murder, potentially reducing the maximum sentence from death.
A judge ordered court records about the defense plan to be unsealed, giving the public a glimpse into legal strategies that could shape the outcome.
Mangione’s state trial is scheduled to start on September 8, after his federal case earlier this year had its murder and firearms charges dropped.
Thompson, a 50‑year‑old investor, was shot from behind on December 4 2024 as he entered a hotel in Manhattan for an annual conference.
