NEW YORK — The New York judge overseeing the state case against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, threw out two terrorism charges on Tuesday in a significant win for the defense.
Mangione appeared in court for the first time in five months for the brief hearing. The judge dismissed the two terrorism charges as legally insufficient, but allowed the remaining nine charges to remain — including a count of second-degree murder.
The state case is one of three that Mangione and his legal team are juggling since he was detained by police at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in December. He has also been charged with murder at the federal level ― in what Attorney General Pam Bondi has said will be a death penalty case ― and on several lesser state charges in Pennsylvania.
Mangione was led into the courtroom in a khaki jumpsuit and shackles. He was generally expressionless, though he appeared to direct a half-smile toward the rows of his supporters in the audience.
Dozens of supporters — primarily young women — turned out to wait in line for a chance at seeing Mangione in the courtroom. A few of them told reporters they spent some 30 hours queuing in front of the courthouse in order to guarantee their seat.
