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Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione are accusing the federal government of presenting insufficient and vague allegations in their case seeking the death penalty for the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
In a recent court filing, the defense team is urging a federal judge to compel the prosecution to disclose details related to the allegations that are expected to be proven during the sentencing phase of Mangione’s trial.
The defense argues that the prosecution’s information regarding various aspects, such as threats to individuals other than the victim and the impact on the victim’s loved ones, lacks specificity and factual basis, as stated in the document.
Mangione’s defense team contends that the lack of specific details hinders their ability to prepare a defense against the allegations during the trial’s sentencing phase, a violation of the Federal Death Penalty Act.
The document calls for an “informational outline” to be provided to the defense by Oct. 24, which is 90 days from the filing date.
Mangione’s attorneys emphasized the importance of having sufficient time to conduct an investigation in this case, noting that the government had already expressed its intent to seek the death penalty before the defense could conduct a thorough mitigation investigation.
“Too much is left to guesswork,” Mangione’s legal team wrote. “Notice means notice. It does not mean a scavenger hunt for clues in discovery.”
Mangione is facing charges for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024, and then fleeing to Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors claim that Mangione used a homemade ghost gun to shoot Thompson, with the killing believed to be ideologically motivated based on writings found at the crime scene.
Read the court filing here.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office previously described the shooting as an act intended to convey a social and political message to the public.
The prosecution also referenced journal entries and a note addressed to the FBI, where Mangione allegedly criticized the U.S. healthcare system, stating that “these parasites simply had it coming.”
In addition to federal charges of murder and stalking, Mangione is also facing state charges that are expected to proceed before the federal trial.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and neither the Department of Justice nor Mangione’s legal team immediately responded to requests for comment.
