Mangione lawyers abandon psychiatric defense over health CEO’s killing

Luigi Mangione's legal team abandoned a psychiatric defense on Thursday in the upcoming state trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. This decision came just one day after Mangione's lawyers informed Judge Gregory Carro that they intended to argue the 28-year-old was experiencing an "extreme emotional disturbance" when Thompson was killed on December 4, 2024. The defense's shift in strategy was announced during a court appearance on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The specific reasons for the reversal were not immediately detailed in court. Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside his Manhattan apartment. The initial pursuit of the psychiatric defense suggested the legal team planned to argue that Mangione's mental state impaired his ability to understand the nature and consequences of his actions. The abandonment of this defense means the trial will likely proceed with a focus on other legal arguments. The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile victim and the dramatic shift in the defense's approach.