A New York state judge has thrown out two terrorism counts against Luigi Mangione on Tuesday, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
During a Tuesday morning hearing, Judge Gregory Carro determined that the evidence presented by prosecutors was insufficient to justify terrorism-linked charges. Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the December shooting of Thompson in Manhattan.
In a written ruling, Carro explained that the allegations did not satisfy the state’s definition of terrorism. While prosecutors claimed that Mangione’s writings indicated terrorist motives, the judge ruled they had not proved an intent to pressure the government or to intimidate the public—requirements under New York’s post-9/11 terrorism law.
“There was no evidence presented that the defendant made any demands of government or sought any particular governmental policy change, let alone that he did so by intimidation or coercion,” Carro wrote.
With the dismissal of the terrorism-related murder count, Mangione avoided a potential life sentence without parole.
If convicted on the second-degree murder charge, he could serve between 15 and 25 years at minimum. He is also facing weapons and forgery accusations, in addition to federal murder charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
Carro denied a defence motion to postpone the state case until the federal proceedings concluded and set jury selection for 1 December. Mangione has pleaded not guilty.
Thompson, a father of two and the head of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance division, was in New York for business when he was shot three times at around 6:45am (GMT +4) on 4 December. Mangione was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, roughly 300 miles (480 kilometres) away.
Investigators said Mangione left behind a note criticising corporations profiting from the US healthcare industry, accusing them of “corruption and greed.”
Outside Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, a small group of Mangione’s supporters gathered with signs reading “Free Luigi” and “Innocent until proven guilty.”
