A US judge has ruled that Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty if he is convicted over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
US District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, finding it was technically flawed.
The judge left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. The 27-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
Mangione also faces nine counts in a case brought by New York state prosecutors, including second-degree murder and various weapons charges.
He has pleaded not guilty in this case too.
Mr Thompson was killed on 4 December 2024 as he walked to a New York City hotel for his company’s annual investor conference.
Video footage showed a masked gunman shooting the 50-year-old from behind.
Man charged with impersonating FBI agent in apparent bid to free Luigi Mangione from New York jail
Luigi Mangione wrote notes to himself, saying ‘pluck eyebrows’ and ‘keep momentum, FBI slower overnight’
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Police said the words “delay”, “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, an apparent reference to a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.
Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, was arrested five days later in Pennsylvania.
After several days of court proceedings there, Mangione was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is currently being held.
Jury selection in the federal case is scheduled to begin on 8 September.
The state trial has not been scheduled yet.
However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office sent a letter on Wednesday urging the judge in that case to set a trial date of 1 July.
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