State murder trial of UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer postponed after federal guilty plea

A Manhattan judge cancelled the state murder trial of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and set a deadline of Oct. 9 for the district attorney's office to respond to the defense's double jeopardy argument. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Dec. 10, a week before Mangione is due to be sentenced in the federal case.

Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to two stalking charges and admitted to following Thompson to an investor conference and shooting him outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. Federal prosecutors said they will seek a life sentence at Mangione's Dec. 18 sentencing, although sentencing guidelines suggest 24 to 30 years.

"On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died," Mangione said.

His attorneys immediately filed a motion to dismiss the state case on double jeopardy and due-process grounds, arguing that the state and federal prosecutions target the same conduct. They described Mangione as a "pawn in parallel prosecutions" and accused prosecutors of trying to punish him twice.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office said it will oppose the motion, noting that the state sentencing has not yet been determined and that the state charges involve distinct legal elements. Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann wrote that the state must consider the seriousness of the offenses and the "sanctity of life" principle underlying homicide charges.

New York law provides strong protections against multiple prosecutions for the same conduct, allowing a state case to be barred if a federal case ends in a guilty plea or jury verdict. Judge Gregory Carro will decide whether the doctrine applies to Mangione, with any ruling subject to appeal.