Luigi Mangione's lawyers will argue psychiatric defense in state murder trial

A state court hearing revealed Luigi Mangione's lawyers will argue that he was suffering from an extreme emotional disturbance when he allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in December 2024.

Mangione was in a New York City courtroom Wednesday morning for a hearing regarding his state murder case. He also faces a federal trial.

Mangione could be convicted of the less serious charge of manslaughter rather than murder if a jury finds that he was emotionally disturbed.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, one of his attorneys, was a CNN legal analyst before she was retained. In December 2024, she said it looked like a psychiatric defense could be a possibility for Mangione.

"The evidence is going to be so overwhelming that he did what he did," she previously said.

By asserting this defense, Mangione would effectively admit to killing Thompson, but because of mitigating circumstances, legal expert Richard Schoenstein said.

"It seems like they are giving up the question of who did it," Schoenstein said. "This is a defense when you are conceding that he is the person who pulled the trigger. You're not fighting that anymore. You're turning from if and who to why. This is now a why defense."

Schoenstein said this is not an insanity defense, which usually seeks complete absolation for the crime.

Judge Gregory Carro announced that he is unsealing court records related to the defense's plan, which was filed in September.

Prosecutors said they are not moving forward with count nine of the indictment, which was criminal possession of a weapon.

The charge, involving the magazine that was suppressed by the court, was formally dismissed Wednesday.

Wednesday's hearing was supposed to happen Tuesday, but it was delayed at the last minute due to a mistake by the prosecution. Prosecutors said they did not serve the order for Mangione to appear in court, leading to the rescheduling.

"Mistakes happen. People make mistakes," Agnifilo said after appearing in court Tuesday.

Mangione is being tried on federal and state charges for the shooting death of Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. He pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Jury selection for Mangione's federal interstate stalking trial is scheduled to start on Oct. 5. Opening statements are expected on either Oct. 26 or Nov. 2.