Judge bars prosecutors from seeking death penalty against Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione in Manhattan Criminal Court for an evidence hearing in December (Shannon Stapleton/Pool Photo via AP)

Federal prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson, a judge has ruled.

It foils the Trump administration’s bid to see Mangione executed for what it called a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America”.

US District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, finding that it was technically flawed.

Judge Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.