Judge Rules Out Death Penalty in Federal Case Against Luigi Mangione

A federal judge has ruled that prosecutors may not seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. On Jan. 30, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett of the Southern District of New York dismissed two of the four federal counts against Mangione, including one of murder through use of a firearm in relation to stalking and a separate count of using a firearm during stalking. The former charge carried a potential death sentence, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed a notice of intent to seek the maximum penalty. Instead, Mangione will face two remaining “fatal stalking” charges at trial: crossing state lines to stalk Thompson and cause his death, and using the internet to plan and carry out the killing. Each offense carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without parole....