Luigi Mangione appears at an evidence suppression hearing at the Manhattan supreme court in May. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/ReutersLuigi Mangione appears at an evidence suppression hearing at the Manhattan supreme court in May. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/ReutersLuigi Mangione to pursue psychiatric defense in New York state murder trialJudge discloses Mangione’s team plans to argue he suffered ‘extreme emotional disturbance at time of occurrence’
Luigi Mangione’s legal team plans on pursuing a psychiatric defense during his upcoming Manhattan state court trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, court proceedings revealed Wednesday.
Judge Gregory Carro revealed the move in discussion of unsealing records related to the defense’s request to pursue this legal strategy.
Carro disclosed that Mangione’s team planned to argue he suffered an “extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence”.
He ordered the defense to promptly tell prosecutors what “mental defect” Mangione allegedly suffered. Carro also ordered the defense and prosecution to immediately share information with each other related to this defense.
“They need to know the malady and how that triggered emotional disturbance,” Carro also said at one point in urging the defense to act swiftly.
Mangione appeared this morning after missing an appearance earlier on Tuesday due to a paperwork error. He was escorted into court at approximately 9.47am, wearing a deep blue suit and pale shirt, without a tie, and restrained with handcuffs.
Mangione’s appearance relates to the 4 December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street in late 2024.
He faces state and federal charges in Thompson’s death, and has pleaded not guilty in both cases. In Mangione’s state case, he now faces eight counts including second-degree murder.
Mangione’s state trial is scheduled for 8 September. His federal case involves stalking charges.
The slaying on a Midtown street both launched an extensive manhunt for Thompson’s killed and a surge of public anger against the US healthcare system – which has long been derided for placing profits over patients.
As for Mangione’s non-appearance earlier this week, Carro informed the court that Mangione was not brought to court from jail as required, necessitating re-scheduling.
Prosecutor Joel Seidemann told the court, “It’s on us.” He explained that the prosecutors got paperwork signed that would have green-lighted Mangione’s transport, it was not delivered as required.
Carro’s disclosure also started to lift the veil on secrecy surrounding Mangione’s state case.Carro on 3 June held a closed-door proceeding with Mangione, his team, and prosecutors despite press objections.
Court proceedings are presumed open in New York and US courts and journalists have a right to petition against potential closures, both in person and via letter. Carro refused to hear them.
In court this morning, Carro said “the reason for the sealing was to give the defense an opportunity to determine whether they were going forth with this defense”.
“If they didn’t go forward,” Carro said, information in this proceeding could be “very prejudicial”.
Carro said that transcript of the closed-door proceeding will be made available publicly following appropriate redaction.
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