In a New York courtroom on Friday, Luigi Mangione voiced strong opposition to the prospect of undergoing successive trials related to the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As court officers prepared to escort Mangione, 27, from the courtroom, he declared to the judge, “It's the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.”
Judge Gregory Carro, following an extensive bench discussion involving both prosecutors and defense counsel, set the state murder trial to commence on June 8. This date precedes the federal case jury selection by approximately three months. However, the judge noted that should an appeal cause a delay in the federal proceedings, the state trial might be postponed until September 8.
Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo expressed serious concerns about the June timeline, emphasizing the impossibility of preparing for two major trials simultaneously. "Mr. Mangione is being put in an untenable situation," she said, describing the scenario as a "tug-of-war between two different prosecution offices." She further indicated the defense would be unprepared for the June start date due to the impending federal trial, which involves charges that Mangione stalked Thompson prior to the killing.
Judge Carro responded succinctly to the defense's readiness objections: “Be ready.”
Mangione maintains his plea of not guilty on both the state and federal charges, each carrying the potential for life imprisonment. Notably, the federal judge recently ruled that prosecutors cannot pursue the death penalty in this case. Jury selection for the federal trial is scheduled for September 8, with opening statements and witness testimonies anticipated to begin on October 13.
During the hearing, Mangione quietly occupied the defense table until the closing moments when he vocally opposed the trial sequencing. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann formally requested that the New York state trial begin as soon as July 1. He argued that further delays would unfairly prejudice the state's interests, asserting that, by law, the state holds precedence in jurisdiction, trial, sentencing, and incarceration matters given the arrest was made by New York City police rather than federal agents.
Seidemann also noted that the family of Brian Thompson supports the state trial occurring prior to the federal case.
Judge Carro commented on the apparent shift in federal prosecutorial stance, stating, “It appears the federal government has reneged on its agreement to let the state, which has done most of the work in this case, go first.”
The ordering of the state trial first may help prosecutors sidestep complications related to double jeopardy claims. Under New York law, the district attorney’s office could be prohibited from prosecuting Mangione if the federal proceeding occurs first. Protective measures against double jeopardy activate when a duplicate prosecution involves the same conduct and when a jury is sworn in or if a guilty plea has been entered in the preceding case.
Mangione’s next state court appearance is set for May, where Judge Carro is expected to rule on a defense motion to exclude key pieces of evidence. Prosecutors contend these exhibits link Mangione directly to the murder.
Among the contested evidence are a 9 mm handgun allegedly matching the murder weapon and a notebook purportedly containing Mangione’s plans to "wack" a health insurance executive. Last week, the court permitted these items' use at trial. Earlier, state terrorism charges against Mangione were dismissed, though the intentional murder charges remain intact.
Thompson, aged 50, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, while en route to a Manhattan hotel hosting UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance footage depicts a masked gunman firing from behind. Authorities reported that words such as "delay," "deny," and "depose" were inscribed on the bullets, referencing an anti-claims tactic allegedly employed by insurers.
Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania alumnus from a well-to-do Maryland family, was arrested five days later at an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald's, approximately 230 miles west of Manhattan.