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UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect’s “Only Viable Chance” of Success May Be Psychiatric Defense
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Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, may have his “only viable chance” of success in his murder case with a psychiatric defense, according to New York-based attorney Daniel Gotlin.
Gotlin, who successfully tried a mental health defense in 2014, believes that Mangione’s only hope is to argue that he was not of sound mind at the time of the shooting. “In my view, the only viable chance, and I’m not saying it’s a viable defense, is some type of psychiatric defense,” Gotlin told Fox News Digital.
Mangione faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and criminal weapons possession, for allegedly shooting and killing Thompson outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel on December 4. Authorities have found a manifesto in Mangione’s backpack, as well as a 3D-printed gun and suppressor, which match the description of the weapon used in the murder.
Gotlin believes that Mangione’s mental health may have played a role in the shooting, citing the suspect’s recent graduate school education and his family’s affluent background. “Now, it seems to me that, based on what I see in this kid, he clearly had some kind of break with reality,” Gotlin said.
Other experts have also suggested that a psychiatric defense may be a viable option for Mangione. Lara Yeretsian, a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney, believes that it is too early to speculate about a potential defense or plea deal, but notes that “right now is too early to make a decision on pleading him out because he may not have been of sound mind at the time of the shooting.”
However, not all experts agree that a psychiatric defense is the best option for Mangione. Louis Gelormino, a New York City criminal defense attorney, believes that the level of planning that appears to have gone into the slaying makes an insanity defense difficult. “For example of an extreme emotional distress defense, a guy walks up to somebody on the subway and stabs somebody, then he drops the knife and stands there, and he’s got previous mental health issues. He’s hearing voices,” Gelormino said. “He’s not planning a getaway, he doesn’t have false ID, he doesn’t have a silencer on his weapon. Those are the things that show, no matter what you do, you did know what you were doing.”
The case is ongoing, and it is too early to speculate about a potential outcome.