Mangione hearing begins
Luigi Mangione's hearing is beginning in federal court following reports in US media of a possible plea deal.
We've got reporters in the room who'll be keeping us updated. Stick with us for the latest updates.
Who is Luigi Mangione?
Luigi Mangione, 28 is the son of a prominent Maryland family. At his elite private school, he came top of his class, going on to graduate from Ivy League college the University of Pennsylvania.
He spent time in a surfing community in Hawaii but left owing to debilitating back pain, say those who remember him.
It is unclear, however, to what extent his own health troubles shaped his views of the medical industry.
Mangione's mother reported him missing in November to San Francisco authorities, telling them she had not heard from her son since July.
He was arrested for the murder of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot on 4 December 2024, in New York City. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Read more about the man allegedly behind the killing of the healthcare chief executive
What is double jeopardy?
Ahead of today’s hearing, there has been speculation that, in the event of a federal plea deal, Mangione’s lawyers might seek to get his state murder charge dropped under double jeopardy.
This is a constitutional protection that stops a person being prosecuted twice for the same crime.
Even though Mangione is facing different charges in each of the separate cases, his lawyers have previously argued he shouldn’t be tried in both state and federal court. So far, judges have allowed both cases to proceed.
It is unclear exactly what would happen if Mangione’s attorneys did invoke double jeopardy today. The state trial is due to start on 8 September.
How a murder case fuelled a culture war
Since the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, the case against Luigi Mangione has become about more than just the evidence that will be tested in court.
Across politics, social media and the news media, competing groups have sought to frame the story through their own lens, linking it to debates about left-wing violence, Antifa, healthcare, political extremism and public anger at powerful institutions.
In this episode of the BBC's podcast The Mangione Trial, journalist and extremism expert Mike Wendling helps untangle the claims, examining what terms such as "far left" and "Antifa" actually mean, why some commentators have associated them with the case, and what evidence exists about Mangione's political views.
The episode also explores how a high-profile criminal case can become a political symbol, even when the facts are disputed and a trial has yet to take place.
You can listen to it here.
Technology restrictions in court mean no images of Mangione
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
While I and my colleague Nada are in court, we won’t be allowed to have any electronics like a phone or a laptop.
That’s because federal courts bar the public and most press from using these devices in a courtroom, besides a handful of journalists who are exempt here at the Southern District of New York.
We’ll be using good old-fashioned pen and paper to record everything that happens inside, then running outside as soon as court is out to report the news.
It also means you won't be seeing any photos or videos of Mangione's appearance in the courtroom today.
'Loving, generous, talented': Who was Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson, 50, was the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private healthcare insurer in the US.
He started at the company in 2004, before working his way up. His widow said he had been receiving threats relating to medical “coverage” following his appointment as the chief executive in April 2021.
On 4 December 2024, while leaving his hotel in New York to walk to a conference, Thompson was fatally shot in the back.
A private funeral was held near where the father-of-two lived in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
A statement issued on behalf of the family at the time said: “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian.
"Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives."
UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare's parent company, said it was "deeply saddened and shocked" by his death.
Who was Brian Thompson, healthcare CEO gunned down in New York?
Different views on the Mangione case outside court
Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from court
Outside the court, the BBC has been speaking to members of the public about their views on the case.
Kristopher Aadahl, who goes by the name O, says he wants to judge the events of the day for himself and not rely on media representations.
O, who says he used to work for the state but has become homeless, says he sees Mangione as someone who was "willing to sacrifice his life and potentially spend the rest of his life in prison to do what he felt was right".
His views are an example of the support that Mangione has found among some people.
Also outside the court, is William Dobbs, a lawyer who does criminal justice work.
"I am concerned that when there is punishment, there's got to be a chance for rehabilitation, dare I say, for redemption? Otherwise, many high profile, egregious cases can veer into vengeance," he says.
Dobbs adds that he's concerned there are two cases, the federal and the state, for the same crime.
Members of the public gather outside the court
People are starting to gather outside the court in Lower Manhattan ahead of Luigi Mangione's hearing.
Among them is a man who can be seen holding a placard and stickers have been pasted outside.
Our reporter at the scene says not many of Mangione's supporters have gathered yet but there is still a while to go before the hearing is expected to begin.
Courthouse preparing for Luigi Mangione's hearing
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
I’m at the federal courthouse where Luigi Mangione is expected to appear for a hearing later.
Dozens of press outlets from around the world have set up outside the courthouse and across the street.
Meanwhile, several regular Mangione supporters and longtime court observers wait patiently behind a metal barricade for the chance to access the courtroom.
So far, the atmosphere is calm but anticipation is high as several US outlets report Mangione’s lawyers and federal prosecutors may discuss a possible plea deal.
We’ll be bringing you more from inside court this morning.
Speculation of a plea deal in overdrive since yesterday
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from court
The moment this hearing was announced, speculation went into overdrive even before sources told several US media outlets that a plea deal was being discussed.
With the state trial due to start on 8 September, Luigi Mangione’s lawyers would normally be laser focused on preparing their defence, which signals that this last-minute hearing for a federal trial in January must be more than a procedural discussion.
Reportedly, Mangione’s team met with him yesterday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where he has been detained.
But legal experts caution that even if a plea deal is in the works, the 28-year-old could still change his mind.
What happens today could impact Mangione's state trial
Mangione faces two separate criminal prosecutions – in New York state court as well as federal court – over the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
As we mentioned earlier, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases, and his state trial is scheduled to begin next month.
But if Mangione pleads guilty in his federal case, it could open the door for his lawyers to argue the state case runs afoul of double jeopardy – a constitutional protection that prevents an individual from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.
New York's state constitution has its own prohibition on double jeopardy, which could have a knock-on effect on Mangione's upcoming state trial.
"If a federal prosecution has been completed on a matter, the state cannot prosecute the matter on those same facts," said Mitchell Epner, a lawyer and former federal prosecutor.
Mangione to appear in court as plea deal rumours swirl
Sakshi Venkatraman
Live reporter
In about an hour, Luigi Mangione will appear in a federal court in New York, where he faces charges related to the 2024 killing of United Healthcare chief executive Brian Thompson.
The hastily scheduled hearing comes as rumours circulate that Mangione has struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
If that’s true, it could have a cascading impact over his separate upcoming New York state murder trial, which is slated to begin next month.
But the details of the rumoured agreement are still unclear, and discussions of a plea deal does not guarantee one will be reached. Such arrangements can fall apart at any time, and deals must also be approved by the court.
The 28-year-old faces two federal stalking charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
He's previously pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases.
We'll bring you more information on what plea deals are, the charges Mangione faces, and the significance of the two separate trials. We will also have the latest from inside the court from our reporters.
