Luigi Mangione’s federal trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson has been pushed back to January 2027, after a Manhattan hearing began late because the defendant was delayed by courthouse lift problems.
Mangione, 28, appeared before US District Judge Margaret Garnett on Monday 29 June in beige jail clothing, entering the courtroom around 30 minutes after proceedings were due to begin. Court officials said he and US Marshals had been delayed after becoming stuck in a courthouse lift before the hearing.
Throughout the hearing, Mangione appeared alert and engaged, at times smiling and speaking animatedly with his lawyers. He remained unshackled at the wrists at the defence table throughout the hearing.
Garnett said the federal case would be adjourned to avoid clashing with Mangione’s state murder trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on 8 September 2026.
“In my view it’s simply impossible to be moving through the jury selection process in this case while the defendant and his counsel are fully occupied by conducting the state trial,” Garnett said.
Jury selection in the federal case is now due to start on 5 January 2027, with opening statements scheduled for 25 January.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both the state and federal cases arising from Thompson’s fatal shooting outside a Manhattan hotel on 4 December 2024. In the federal case, he now faces two stalking counts after murder and weapons charges were dismissed earlier this year. He could still face a life sentence if convicted.
The scheduling change gives Mangione’s defence team more time between the two proceedings, after his lawyers argued that back-to-back trials would place too much pressure on the defence. His state case remains on track for September, where he faces murder, weapons and forgery charges brought by Manhattan prosecutors.
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