A hearing in the state murder trial of Luigi Mangione linked to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been postponed after prosecutors failed to properly notify the prison that he needed to stand trial.Judge Gregory Caro had scheduled the hearing for Tuesday, but it was postponed about a half-hour after the hearing was scheduled to begin. Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidman told the court that the required paperwork had not been sent to the prison, according to courtroom statements reported by The Associated Press.“It’s on us,” Seidman said. “We signed the order but failed to submit it.”“That’s unfortunate,” Caro replied.Seidman also said that although the federal judge in Mangione’s case had issued an order allowing him to wear a suit to court, that alone was not enough to guarantee his appearance in court.Mangione, 28, is currently being held in a federal prison in Brooklyn. He faces state and federal charges in connection with the Dec. 4, 2024, killing of Brian Thompson. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases and could face life in prison if convicted.
The judge was expected to rule on an unspecified matter after a closed hearing held two weeks ago. That ruling is now expected to be issued on Wednesday.Mangione’s state trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, while his federal trial, which includes stalking-related charges, is scheduled for Oct. 13.Thompson, 50, was shot while on his way to a Manhattan hotel to attend UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance camera footage showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind.
Investigators say the words “delay,” “denial” and “deposit” were written on the lead, a reference to a phrase associated with denial of insurance claims.Authorities say Mangione was arrested five days after the murder at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 km) from New York City. He was detained after a nationwide search.In a previous hearing, the court allowed the use of a gun and a notebook presented by the prosecution as evidence.
Prosecutors say the gun, a 3D-printed handgun, matches the weapon used in the killing, and the notebook includes writings about wanting to “bother” a health insurance executive and oppose what he called a “greed-fueled health insurance cartel.”The case has attracted significant public attention because the victim was a senior health care executive, the murder was captured on surveillance footage, and prosecutors allege it was ideologically motivated linked to anger against the health insurance industry. It also sparked significant controversy over health insurance coverage and providers in the United States.
