Luigi Mangione fights execution in murder trial due to ‘Marvel movie’ arrest

Luigi Mangione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, 2024, in a case that instantly made headlines around the world. Now his lawyers want to avoid the death penalty

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers are back in court fighting his execution because his arrest turned into a “Marvel movie”.

They claim his case was highly prejudiced following the 2024 arrest that turned into a global story, and accused prosecutors of publicly declaring their desire to see him executed before he was formally indicted. Failing that, they say the charge that allowed the federal government to seek the death penalty should be throw out because it is legally flawed.

But prosecutors insist the murder charge is legally sufficient and “pretrial publicity, even when intense” is not a constitutional crisis, reports The Independent.

They added that any concerns about public perceptions can be dealt with by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to the federal state murder charges, which carry a life sentence.

It is expected that the judge will draw up a trial date today in court.

Mangione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, 2024, as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference.

Surveillance footage captured a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Written on the ammunition were the words “delay”, “deny” and “depose”, police said, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid playing claims.

The arrest drew headlines from around the world. Mangione is an Ivy League-educated son of a wealthy Maryland family. He was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Atloona, Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile in another trial that could lead to an execution, the siblings of Nick Reiner said they believe their accused brother should avoid the death penalty because he is “seriously ill”.

Nick, 32, is accused of stabbing his massively famous parents to death at their California home on December 14 last year. He has a history of drug addiction and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to reports.

If found guilty on murder charges, he could face capital punishment, after a spike in executions in 2025. But his siblings believe he should not face a grisly death because of his poor mental health.

An insider told the US Sun: “Rob & Michele’s family, despite everything, do not want Nick to get the death penalty, as they insist this horrific incident was the byproduct of a mental health crisis.”

They also described him as “seriously ill”. Rob and Michele’s children, Jake and Romy, believe the alleged attack was triggered by a mental health crisis.

The source close to the family said he was “diagnosed with schizophrenia just weeks before the stabbings and was under close psychiatric care”.

They added: “Nick’s symptoms took a turn for the worse after doctors adjusted his medication before the killings, which the family believes, triggered increasingly concerning behaviour.”

They continued: “The last thing the Reiners want is another killing in the face of this unbelievable tragedy, and that the death penalty would only bring more pain. It won’t bring back Rob and Michele.”

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