US Judge Tosses Mangione Charge That Carries Death Penalty

Luigi Mangione won a legal victory when a federal judge dismissed a murder charge that could have led to the death penalty if he were convicted in the killing of UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson.

US District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled Friday that prosecutors cannot pursue a murder charge that would have let jurors decide if he should be put to death if found guilty. The decision means the death penalty is off the table for now but the Justice Department may appeal.