UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione waives extradition, is returning to NYC
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania — CEO of UnitedHealthcare Murder suspect Luigi Mangione was on his way back to New York City Thursday Pennsylvania waives extradition.
Mangione may go before New York City judge First-degree murder and terrorism charges It only takes a few hours.
The 26-year-old did not speak to reporters as he arrived at a Pennsylvania courthouse for an extradition hearing. NYPD detectives were on scene to ensure Mangione was transported back to New York City for arraignment.
Mangione is expected to be arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday. He is then expected to be held at Rikers Island, where he will be held in isolation and protective custody due to his high-profile status, sources said.
Mangione is also expected to face federal charges, sources said
He is also expected to be charged with federal crimes in the case, two people familiar with the matter told CBS News.
“The federal government’s reported decision to retry an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy issues. We are prepared to challenge these cases in any court plea to the charges,” Manhattan prosecutor and defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said in a statement Thursday morning.
“As alleged, this defendant brazenly shot Mr. Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, working with our partners at the NYPD, is committed to bringing justice to this heinous murder. , is charged with first-degree murder and the state case will be heard in parallel with any federal case,” the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
The New York Times first reported the expected federal charges.
How the hearing went in court
Following the hearing, Mangione was turned over to the custody of the NYPD. CBS News’ Ari Bowman in New York said the courtroom was packed. About a dozen NYPD officers sat in the front row waiting to take him back to New York.
“I mean, there were people sitting on the floor, people standing in the back. People were outside waiting to get in. In fact, behind me now, there were even Luigi supporters who were outside holding signs that said With ‘Liberty’ “Luigi,” Bowman reported.
Dave Krueger
Mangione was clean-shaven, wearing an orange jumpsuit and had his hands and ankles shackled, Bowman said. Bowman reported that he looked softer than in his last appearance, “seemingly relaxed, sometimes even smiling or even shrugging, with very expressive facial expressions.”
Mangione signed an extradition waiver. When the judge asked him directly if he would give up, Mangione stood up and answered “yes.”
He was immediately remanded into NYPD custody and flown directly to New York rather than first stopping at the Pennsylvania prison where he was being held.
Mangione’s attorneys told the Pennsylvania court that the situation has changed since they initially opposed extradition last week, saying they have been in communication with his legal counsel in New York and that he now believes the decision is consistent with his client’s best interests.
“We’re ready to do that now. Before we were ready. It’s in his best interest,” said Mangione’s attorney, Tom Dickey.
Bowman reported there were plenty of pauses during the 90-minute hearing. For some of it, Mangione spoke in low voices to his lawyers, sometimes smiling and shrugging, making very animated facial expressions as he spoke. But as his attorney left his desk alone to speak with the judge, Mangione read the documents in front of him, talked to the sheriff’s deputy standing next to him and spent some time appearing to stare into space.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania prosecutors have yet to drop forgery and firearms charges against him, and his next court appearance in Pennsylvania is scheduled for February.
What about a first degree murder charge?
“The terrorism charge exists because it’s a necessary component of first-degree murder. In New York, intentional homicide is just second-degree murder, and the difference is that you can’t get a life sentence unless you’re convicted of first-degree murder. “So they have to add the terrorism aggravating factor, upgrade it to the first degree so they can try to impose a life sentence without parole,” trial attorney Richard Schonstein explained.
Schonstein, who is not part of the prosecution or defense in the case, analyzed the charges.
“I think theoretically this defendant wanted to send a message with this killing. As far as we know, he had no personal connection to Brian Thompson. He had no personal grudge against him. This killing was intended to make a statement about Healthcare industry, you can have anything you want about healthcare industry industry message, but shooting a person in the street to make a statement – that’s not how we make a statement in this country, so to speak, to induce fear and maybe even convince them to change what they’re doing. , I think that’s the argument in favor of terrorism charges,” he said. .
What is an extradition hearing?
Extradition is the process by which a country (or nation) transfers an individual who has been charged or convicted of a criminal offense outside its territory to the country where the crime was committed, so that the person can face justice in that country. The state requires this.
An extradition hearing is the legal process in which evidence is reviewed to determine whether it is likely that the extradition request will be granted.
By waiving a hearing, review of the evidence is waived, which means they can take the necessary steps to face the accused person at trial.
What if Mangione challenges extradition?
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday she has plans and an arrest warrant in place if Mangione does not waive extradition.
“When that happens, I will send the warrant to the governor. He tells me he will sign the warrant immediately and the extradition will proceed,” Hochul said. “He may give up that right, sources say he may give up that right and come back on his own. But I’m ready to bring him back here and make sure that justice is served for those who dare to shoot any New Yorker, I Whatever their title, committing such a brazen act on our streets will have serious consequences.”
“The good thing is he started the New York case. We already know that Pennsylvania has said they won’t move forward with the case until the New York case is completed, so that means once he gets here he can actually be arraigned and the case can be based on him The charges started in New York,” explained Anna Kominsky, a professor at New York Law School.
Mangione’s life in prison
While Mangione was incarcerated in Pennsylvania, he received dozens of emails and messages, such as the following He was arrested at McDonald’s last week in Altoona, according to CBS News in New York.
He also had three visitors – his lawyers – including Friedman Agnifilo, who said in an interview before becoming his lawyer that his best defense was in spirit. Pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Mangione faces murder and terrorism charges
Mangione is Indicted on 11 charges on Tuesdayincluding first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson assassinated December 4, Midtown Manhattan.
“This was a horrific, carefully planned and targeted murder designed to shock, concern and intimidate,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, adding that the killing “was designed to induce terror.” “.
Evidence disclosed in the indictment includes the following: The shells say “Rejected” and “Abandoned” found on site, and One of the bullets says “DELAY”. These are seen as referencing the phrase used by insurance industry commentators – the “three D’s of insurance”.
Authorities also discovered a document approximately two to three pages long in which Mangione allegedly expressed frustration with the health care industry.
Pat Milton and
contributed to this report.
