Luigi Mangione's legal team withdraws psychiatric defense in New York murder trial
Updated on: June 18, 2026 / 6:34 PM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- Luigi Mangione's legal team is withdrawing a psychiatric defense in his murder trial.
- They had argued on Wednesday that Mangione was suffering from an extreme emotional disturbance during the alleged killing of CEO Brian Thompson.
- A psychiatric defense could have reduced the murder charge to manslaughter, potentially leading to a shorter prison sentence.
- Legal expert Richard Schoenstein noted that this defense implies an admission of killing with mitigating circumstances, distinct from an insanity defense.
- Mangione's next court date is August 11, with the state trial beginning in September.
- Jury selection for his federal interstate stalking trial is scheduled for October.