Defense files motion to block state murder trial over federal plea

Luigi Mangione's legal team submitted a court filing on Friday seeking to dismiss the state murder case against him. The defense argues that his earlier guilty plea to federal stalking charges satisfies the requirement against being tried twice for the same offense.

Mangione admitted to federal stalking charges in August. In that plea, he acknowledged traveling to New York with the intent to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He also admitted to shooting Thompson outside the Midtown Hilton in 2024.

Attorney Karen Agnifilo wrote that no precedent exists where federal and state authorities prosecuted identical conduct involving the same victim, weapon, location, and time. She stated that New York law does not allow a person to be punished twice for the exact same crime under statutes governing successive prosecutions.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office maintains that the federal stalking charge and the state murder charge address different misconduct. The defense filing counters that the core actions are effectively the same. It notes that while stalking can apply to lesser conduct, it also applies to intentional killing in this instance.

The defense asked the court to consider that the federal prosecution covered the specific act of killing Thompson. The state prosecution would address the same physical actions and result. The Manhattan DA's office did not immediately comment on the new filing.

Mangione is scheduled for sentencing on the federal charges in December. Judge Gregory Carro will hear oral arguments on the defense motion to dismiss the state indictment during that same month.