Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has a long legal battle in front him but even if he is charged and convicted of the highest degree, he would not face the death penalty — the maximum he would face is 20 years or up to life in prison. Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the murder of Brian Thompson but in Pennsylvania, he has been charged with the possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to the police. In New York, Mangione is charged with second-degree murder as well as criminal possession of a forged instrument and several counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
Among these charges, in Pennsylvania, the most serious is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
In New York, the most serious charge Mangione faces is second-degree murder which is punishable by at least 15 years in prison or up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. If there is evidence to warrant it, the change could be upgraded to first-degree murder.
What does New York law say?
In New York, a first-degree murder charge applies only where the victim is a first responder like a police officer, or if the killing involves a murder-for-hire or aims to prevent a witness to a crime from testifying in court; or if the murder is an act of terrorism. In Mangione’s case, a first-degree murder will be imposed if the investigation finds evidence that he had plans to kill other CEOs etc.
But the highest penalty that he could face would be at least 20 years of up to life in prison — not the death penalty as the death penalty was effectively abolished in New York by 2007. The last execution in New York was held in 1963.
In a highly unlikely situation if Mangione is convicted under a federal murder charge, then it could possibly carry a death sentence. According to experts, there is nothing in the case that can qualify it as a federal murder.
What’s next in Luigi Mangione’s case?
Mangione is now in Pennsylvania and is fighting his extradition to New York. His lawyer Thomas Dicky denied Mangione’s involvement in Brian Thompson’s killing and said Mangione would plead not guilty to the charges both in Pennsylvania and New York which includes the murder charge as well.
