• Luigi Mangione's lawyers argue that his due process rights were violated, blocking the death penalty
• The trial relates to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024
• Defense claims political motives behind seeking the death penalty
• A New York judge dismissed two state terrorism charges against Mangione
• Federal prosecutors have until October 31 to respond to the defense motion

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have filed a motion seeking to block federal prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty. They claim that a "torrent of prejudice from multiple public officials" violated his constitutional rights, hindering his ability to secure a fair trial. This includes a controversial "perp walk," where Mangione was shown being detained in shackles upon arrival in court, which they described as "dehumanizing" and unconstitutional, according to Reuters and ABC News.

During the legal proceedings, the defense contended that the actions of Attorney General Pam Bondi and other law enforcement officials demonstrated a clear bias, stating that such external pressures have compromised Mangione's chances for a fair grand jury hearing. They labeled the decision to seek the death penalty as politically motivated, asserting it lacked merit and was driven by an agenda rather than substantive evidence. This viewpoint was emphasized in the 114-page motion filed by the defense, which also criticized the federal Death Penalty Act for not having constitutionally approved procedures, as mentioned in India Times.

The murder charge against Mangione stems from the shooting of Thompson on December 4, 2024, just before Thompson was to speak at an investor conference in New York. The indictment includes federal weapon charges alongside murder, making Mangione eligible for the death penalty if convicted. However, his lawyers have asserted that the entire indictment should be dismissed due to violations of the Fifth and Eighth Amendments, citing a lack of constitutional process. Support for this claim was reinforced by recent developments, including the dismissal of state terrorism charges against Mangione by Judge Gregory Carro, who found the evidence insufficient, as reported by ABC News and Reuters.

Federal prosecutors have until October 31 to respond to the defense's motion regarding the death penalty, while Mangione's next court appearance is scheduled for December 5, 2025. This trial will be crucial in determining the legal ramifications based on the arguments presented by both sides and how they align with constitutional guarantees, highlighting the complexities involved in high-stakes murder cases, as noted by India Times.