Mangione to Use Emotional Disturbance as Defense in N.Y. Murder Trial

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers plan to argue that he was experiencing “extreme emotional disturbance” when he killed a UnitedHealthcare executive in Midtown Manhattan in 2024, a state judge said on Wednesday. The disclosure in the State Supreme Court hearing amounts to a tacit admission by his lawyers that he killed the executive — the first time his lawyers have done so. In New York, if defense lawyers can convince a jury that strong emotions resulted in a “profound loss of self-control,” leading to a homicide, the highest charge their clients can be convicted of is manslaughter. Mr. Mangione has pleaded not guilty. Justice Gregory Carro, who is overseeing Mr. Mangione’s case, said at the pretrial hearing that he would unseal documents and a transcript of a hearing earlier this month related to Mr. Mangione’s mental health defense. The disclosure comes less than three months before the scheduled start of Mr. Mangione’s trial in September. He faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. He is also facing federal charges in a separate trial. Mr. Mangione, 28, is accused of killing the executive, Brian Thompson, on the morning of Dec. 4, 2024. Surveillance footage showed a man in a hoodie emerge from between parked cars, point a handgun affixed with a silencer and fire at Mr. Thompson as he walked toward the hotel’s entrance. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.