Judge dismisses terror charges against Luigi Mangione over heathcare boss death

Luigi Mangione is escorted into court in New York on Tuesday (Seth Wenig/AP)

A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges against the 27-year-old.

Mangione’s lawyers argued that the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution amounted to double jeopardy.

But Judge Gregory Carro rejected that argument, saying it would be premature to make such a determination.

It is Mangione’s first court appearance in the state case since February.

Mangione has attracted a cult following as a representative of frustrations with the health insurance industry.

Dozens of his supporters attended his last hearing, many wearing the Luigi video game character’s green colour as a symbol of solidarity.

His April arraignment in the federal case drew a similar outpouring.