Luigi Mangione’s state murder trial postponed indefinitely amid double jeopardy fight

New York (AP) — The state murder trial of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been indefinitely postponed as his lawyers fight to have the case dismissed on double jeopardy grounds following his guilty plea to federal stalking charges. Judge Gregory Carro issued an order on Monday canceling the trial and giving the Manhattan District Attorney's office until October 9 to respond to the defense's claims of double jeopardy.

A hearing will be held on December 10, a week before Mangione's scheduled sentencing in the federal case. Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty to stalking charges and admitted to shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024. Federal prosecutors plan to seek life in prison for Mangione, though federal sentencing guidelines recommend 24 to 30 years.

Mangione's lawyers argue that the double jeopardy claim should apply because his federal sentence has not yet been determined, and any guilty plea in the federal case would extinguish the state charges. However, the Manhattan District Attorney's office insists it will fight efforts to dismiss the state case, citing New York's strong protections for defendants facing multiple prosecutions.