A judge in New York state has dismissed two terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
However, Judge Gregory Carro ruled in a hearing on Tuesday morning that a charge of second-degree murder against Mangione could stand.
He stated that prosecutors had failed to establish sufficient evidence to justify the terrorism-related murder charges they sought against Mangione.
Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on a busy Manhattan street in December last year.
In his written ruling, Carro noted that the allegations against Mangione did not meet the definition of terrorism under state law. Despite prosecutors arguing that writings left by Mangione demonstrated a terrorism motive, the judge concluded they had not shown he intended to exert political pressure or instill fear in the general population, key components of New York's terrorism statute, which was enacted following the events of September 11, 2001.
There was no evidence presented that the defendant made any demands of government or sought any particular governmental policy change, let alone that he did so by intimidation or coercion, Carro remarked.
The first-degree murder charge that was dismissed would have carried a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
If convicted of the remaining second-degree murder charge, Mangione faces a minimum of 15 to 25 years in prison. He also has charges related to weapons and forgery pending against him.
In addition to the state criminal proceedings, Mangione faces federal murder charges which could potentially lead to the death penalty.
Judge Carro denied a request from the defense to postpone the state trial until the conclusion of Mangione's federal trial.
During Tuesday's hearing, the judge determined that trial hearings would commence on December 1, with Mangione pleading not guilty to the charges against him.
Thompson, a father of two, was the CEO of UnitedHealth Group's insurance division, the largest health insurer in the U.S. He was in New York for a meeting when he was shot three times on December 4 at around 6:45 a.m.
After a five-day manhunt, Mangione was arrested about 300 miles away in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Police reported that he left a note criticizing profit-driven companies within the U.S. healthcare sector, accusing them of corruption and greed.
Outside the Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, a handful of Mangione's supporters gathered, holding placards with messages like Free Luigi and Innocent until proven guilty.
