Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro issued an order on Monday that pushes back the state murder trial of Luigi Mangione. The judge set an October 9 deadline for the New York District Attorney’s office to respond to Mangione’s motion to dismiss the case on double‑jeopardy and constitutional grounds.

Mangione, who pleaded guilty last Friday to two federal counts of stalking and admitted to fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faces a separate state case that includes second‑degree murder and weapons charges. The state trial was slated to begin jury selection on September 8, but the new order means the trial cannot proceed until the court rules on the pending motions.

Justice Carro also scheduled a follow‑up hearing for December 10, which may precede Mangione’s sentencing on the federal convictions. The upcoming hearing could signal when the judge will issue a decision on the double‑jeopardy claim.

Prosecutors’ Position

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office said it will continue to litigate the double‑jeopardy issue and remains committed to seeking justice for the Thompson family. The office noted that the state charges are distinct from the federal plea and that the prosecution will pursue the case if the court finds the double‑jeopardy argument insufficient.

Legal Context

Double‑jeopardy protections in the U.S. Constitution prevent a person from being tried twice for the same offense. Mangione’s defense argues that the state murder charges overlap with the federal stalking convictions, potentially violating those protections. The court’s ruling on this matter could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in New York.

The decision on the motions may be appealed, extending the timeline further. Until then, the state trial remains on hold, and Mangione’s sentencing on the federal charges is scheduled for early December.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.