In a surprising turnaround, Luigi Mangione’s lawyers told a judge Thursday that they would no longer assert a psychiatric defense during his state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The change of heart came just a day after Mangione’s lawyers told Judge Gregory Carro that they planned to pursue a defense based on the argument that the 28-year-old Ivy League graduate was suffering from extreme emotional distress at the time of the murder, which occurred on December 4, 2024.
A message seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for Mangione’s lawyers. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment.
Mangione’s lawyers had until Thursday to provide prosecutors with information supporting the emotional disturbance allegation. Also on Thursday, the transcript of a closed hearing held on June 3 on this issue was made public after Judge Carro ordered the secrecy lifted.
If Mangione had chosen to assert the extreme emotional disorder defense, he would in effect have admitted to killing Thompson, but to having done so due to extenuating circumstances. This would not have relieved him of his responsibility, but could have earned him a shorter prison sentence.
