Prosecutors over-filed their indictment against Luigi Mangioni, so it is no surprise that the judge threw out his terrorism and his first degree murder charges.
First degree murder is pretty much limited to murder for hire and murder of someone in law enforcement under New York State law, and the prosecution proved little evidence for the terrorism charge.
The prosecution's argument, basically that shooting rich white CEO Brian Thompson was terrorism just because.
New York State terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the defendant in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive last year, were dismissed on Tuesday, including a first-degree murder count that could have landed him in prison for the rest of his life.
The judge overseeing the case, Gregory Carro, said he had found the evidence behind the charges “legally insufficient.” Mr. Mangione, 27, also faces federal charges, and is still charged in New York with second-degree murder, for which he faces a sentence of 25 years to life, among nine other counts. Those cases will proceed, though no trial dates have been set.
In charging Mr. Mangione with terrorism, the Manhattan district attorney’s office seemed to acknowledge the seismic effect of a shooting that sent shock waves through American society and set off a groundswell of support for a defendant protesting the nation’s health care system. But the judge’s decision means that while Mr. Mangione may ultimately be proved a murderer, New York’s legal system will have nothing to say about the broader implications of his actions.
"Legally insufficient," is putting it mildly.
0 comments :
Post a Comment