NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione has withdrawn plans to present a mental health defense in his New York state murder case involving the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a court filing on Thursday. Mangione’s lawyers had previously notified the court that they intended to argue he was experiencing an “extreme emotional disturbance” at the time of the alleged killing, but the defense team later withdrew that plan.
Mangione, 28, is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024, according to prosecutors. He has pleaded not guilty to state charges including murder, weapons possession and forgery, court records show. The case is scheduled for trial in New York state court in September 2026, according to court proceedings.
The defense strategy that was withdrawn would have involved arguing that Mangione acted while experiencing an extreme emotional disturbance, a legal claim under New York law that can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter if accepted by a jury. Judge Gregory Carro said earlier in the week that Mangione’s lawyers planned to pursue the argument, according to the Associated Press.
In a court filing, Mangione’s attorneys withdrew the notice that would have allowed them to introduce psychiatric evidence at trial, according to Reuters. The filing did not publicly explain the reason for the change in strategy.
The withdrawal came shortly after the court discussed issues related to the defense’s planned psychiatric evidence. Judge Carro said records connected to the defense request would remain sealed after the legal team abandoned the strategy, according to court reporting.
Prosecutors have accused Mangione of carrying out the killing after planning the attack, while defense attorneys have maintained his right to contest the charges. Mangione also faces a separate federal case connected to the same incident, according to court records cited by Reuters.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office and Mangione’s lawyers did not immediately provide additional public comment on the withdrawal, Reuters reported.
On Monday, court proceedings continued as both sides prepared for the upcoming trial. Details remain unclear on whether Mangione’s defense team will pursue another specific legal strategy or introduce other evidence related to his state of mind.
