Luigi Mangione's lawyers told a judge on Thursday that he will no longer assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to court records. The reversal came a day after his legal team had indicated they would pursue such a defense.
The decision was announced during a pretrial hearing in New York State Supreme Court. Mangione, 26, faces charges of second-degree murder and other counts in the December 2024 shooting death of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. His lawyers did not provide a public explanation for the change in strategy.
Mangione also faces federal charges, including stalking and murder, which could carry the death penalty. The state trial is expected to proceed separately. The next court date has not been set.
