Accused of murdering the CEO of the largest private health insurance company in the United States, Luigi Mangione is at the center of a criminal case that has taken on major social and political dimensions. Every hearing is scrutinized, particularly Monday's, which focuses on the admissibility of crucial evidence.

The murder that shook America

On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare (the largest health insurer in the United States), was gunned down in Manhattan on his way to a professional conference. The cold-blooded act immediately caused a sensation.

A chilling detail: the shell casings found near the body bore the engraved words "Delay", "Deny" and "Depose" ("delay", "contest" and "dismiss"), a direct reference to the criticized practices of insurance companies.

Five days later, Luigi Mangione , a 28-year-old engineer suffering from back problems, was arrested. He has since become, for some, a symbol of American anger over the shortcomings of the private healthcare system and the refusal of insurance companies to reimburse medical care. His popularity is such that his legal defense fund quickly surpassed one million dollars.

The issue at stake in the hearing: the weapon and a "manifesto"

On Monday, a New York court is scheduled to hear a crucial request from Mangione's lawyers: the exclusion of evidence found in his backpack during his arrest. This evidence includes:

1. The murder weapon and its magazine.
2. A three-page “manifesto” that virulently denounces the health system and the excesses of capitalism.

The defense argues that these items are inadmissible , claiming they were seized without a warrant and without the suspect being informed of their rights. The prosecutors, on the other hand, maintain that the seizure was justified by immediate security concerns given the seriousness of the crime.

Double Trial and Capital Punishment

The Mangione case is complicated by a dual jurisdiction.

1. New York State Trial: Tried at the state level, where the death penalty has been abolished since 2008, Mangione faces life imprisonment without parole.
2. Federal Trial: Because he traveled through several states during his escape, the accused will also be tried in federal court. It is at this level that he faces the death penalty , a prospect strongly supported by Donald Trump's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, who calls the act "political violence."

As early as spring, Pam Bondi asked federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty, aligning with President Trump's policy of toughening criminal penalties.

Dropping of Terrorism Charges

A first procedural development took place in September: the Manhattan court dropped the most serious charges, namely first-degree and second-degree murder committed as part of a terrorist act .

The judge justified this decision by stating that no evidence had been presented of an intent to "terrorize the public, inspire widespread fear," or of a conspiracy with terrorist groups. Nor was it proven that Mangione's manifesto was intended for dissemination.

Mangione, however, remains prosecuted for murder .

The Shadow of Death

The prospect of the death penalty at the federal level intensifies the polarization of the case. In a potential federal trial, the twelve jurors would have to vote unanimously to pronounce the execution.

According to The Guardian , the last time federal prosecutors sought the death penalty was in 2023, against an Islamist terrorist. In that case, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, and the defendant was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment.