Luigi Mangione is due in court on Tuesday, with his lawyers seeking to dismiss state murder charges for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They argue the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution constitute double jeopardy. This marks Mangione’s first state court appearance since February.
The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry. Dozens of his supporters showed up to his last hearing, many wearing clothes in the same green as Nintendo’s Luigi character as a symbol of solidarity. His April arraignment in the federal case drew a similar outpouring.
