Luigi Mangione defense unveils new strategy to CHANGE his plea as he stands trial for allegedly murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO
Luigi Mangione’s lawyers have unveiled a new strategy ahead of his murder trial, announcing that they plan to change his plea to deploy a psychiatric defense, arguing that he was ‘extremely emotionally disturbed’ at the time of the alleged killing.
Mangione’s representation presented the defense at a pretrial hearing on Wednesday, according to presiding judge Gregory Carro.
In response, Carro has ordered the defense to produce Mangione’s psychiatric records immediately and unseal records from a secret hearing two weeks ago.
In order for his attorneys to deploy a psychiatric defense, they typically must formally withdraw a prior plea. Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Mangione has been charged in state and federal court for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, in December 2024.
His murder trial is set to begin on September 8. If the defense succeeds in convincing a jury that Mangione had been suffering from a psychiatric condition at the time of the alleged killing, he could receive less prison time.
Mangione’s defense team requested a secret hearing two weeks ago to present the strategy. Carro has said he will unseal records related to the hearing to avoid blindsiding the prosecution.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Mangione’s lawyer, has advocated against unsealing the transcript from the hearing, arguing that it could harm his federal case.
Luigi Mangione’s defense team unveiled a new strategy at a hearing on Wednesday, informing the presiding judge that they were preparing to argue a ‘psychiatric defense’
If Mangione’s lawyers successfully argue that he was ‘extremely emotionally disturbed’ during the time of the alleged killing, he would not face federal prison time
Mangione’s lawyers, Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo and Karen Agnifilo, presented the strategy at a pre-trial hearing. Mangione faces both state and federal charges for allegedly murdering Brian Thompson
The hearing was sealed because the judge agreed it could harm the defense’s case if they decided not to pursue a psychiatric defense.
If Mangione’s team moves forward with a psychiatric defense, he would admit to the charged conduct, but argue that he should not be held criminally liable because his actions were a result of emotional disturbance.
Carro has now tasked the defense with releasing evidence related to Mangione’s alleged emotional disturbance by Thursday.
The judge said that the prosecution needs to know ‘what the malady is that this defendant suffers and how that triggered an extreme emotional disturbance at the time and place of the occurrence.’
‘Nothing is going to be a surprise. I’m not going to let you surprise the People on the eve of the trial. So, get it done.’
The defense is expected to produce the name of a mental health expert to vouch for Mangione’s alleged mental state alongside a report backing up the claim.
Wednesday’s pre-trial hearing was at a Manhattan courthouse. Judge Carro is presiding over Mangione’s state case. He also faces stalking charges in federal court.
Mangione’s attorneys have previously attempted to exclude evidence from trial, arguing that it was obtained during an illegal search.
Judge Gregory Carro has ordered Mangione’s defense team to release evidence related to his alleged psychiatric disturbance by Thursday
If Mangione’s team decides to pursue a psychiatric defense, they would have to withdraw his ‘not guilty’ plea and argue that he was ‘extremely emotionally disturbed’ during the crime
Carro has previously ruled that a jury would be allowed to see evidence, including a gun and a notebook.
However, a cellphone, a loaded magazine and a passport will not be allowed to be shown during court.
Carro has also dismissed a charge related to a gun magazine, which was found during a search of Mangione’s backpack during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
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