US: Luigi Mangione, Accused of Killing UnitedHealthcare CEO, Pleads Not Guilty

New York [US], April 26 (ANI): Luigi Mangione , the individual charged with murder UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan In 2024, on Friday, he entered a plea of not guilty to all federal charges in the case, according to CNN.

During arraignment in Manhattan On Friday, Mangione's attorneys suggested they prefer having his federal case proceed to trial before addressing the associated state charges pertaining to Thompson's death, following the Justice Department’s announcement about seeking capital punishment in the federal case.

Mangione (26) pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, two counts of stalking, and a firearms offense. Besides the federal charges, he also has pending state charges. New York , where Thompson passed away, and Pennsylvania , where Mangione was apprehended. Before this, authorities stated his condition as follows: New York the initial case would move forward first.

During the hearing on Friday, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, stated that she plans to ask for his federal trial to commence initially. She referred to the Justice Department’s declaration indicating their intention to pursue the death penalty for his primary federal charge—murder involving the use of a firearm, as reported by CNN.

The department's announcement came several weeks following Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the office to pursue capital punishment. Luigi Mangione .

As stated by the prosecutors, should he be found guilty in his New York In the event of conviction, Mangione could receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. During a court appearance on Friday, Judge Margaret Garnett mentioned that the upcoming hearing in Mangione’s federal case is planned for December 5, at which time a trial date will be established. The judge anticipates that the proceedings will commence in 2026.

The hearing scheduled for Friday follows roughly one week after Mangione was charged with four federal counts related to Thompson's death on December 4, as indicated by an indictment from a federal grand jury.

The murder of Thompson, who was en route to a UnitedHealthcare investors' conference, took place New York This has led to an overwhelming display of support for Mangione from individuals who feel disheartened and enraged by the United States' healthcare industry driven by profit motives.

Mangione’s supporters assembled outside the courthouse on Friday, many adorned in green – symbolizing Nintendo's "Luigi" character – carrying placards emblazoned with slogans such as “Luigi Before Fascists” and “End Violence: Abolish the Death Penalty Now.”

Mangione has entered a plea of not guilty to both state murder and terrorism charges. New York . In his Pennsylvania In this case, he is facing firearms and forgery charges due to the alleged discovery of a 3D-printed weapon and fake ID at the time of his arrest at a McDonald's. Altoona He did not submit a plea. Pennsylvania before his extradition to New York to face charges there.

A lawyer representing Mangione has submitted multiple motions. Pennsylvania The state court has been petitioned for the removal of all charges against him along with the exclusion of specific pieces of evidence if the proceedings advance to a trial.

His lawyers have stated that the authorities conducted an unlawful stop and search of Mangione, and they asked that any writings retrieved from him should not be termed a manifesto.

At the beginning of this month, the attorneys for Luigi Mangione requested a federal judge to stop the US Justice Department from seeking the death penalty, terming the decision a "political stunt," CNN reported.

Mangione's attorneys requested judicial involvement, arguing that the Justice Department should be prevented from pursuing the death penalty because they failed to adhere to specific procedures and violated Mangione's rights to due process.

The plea from his legal team arrived several days following US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s declaration that the Justice Department intended to seek capital punishment for Mangione. The attorneys argued that Bondi's public comments had contaminated the potential grand jury members. (ANI)

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