A New York state judge has delayed Luigi Mangione's trial on charges of murdering a health insurance executive to September 8, potentially throwing into question the timing of a parallel federal trial.
The state judge, Gregory Carro, pushed back the trial start date from June 8 without specifying a reason, citing frustration over federal prosecutors reneging on a promise to let state prosecutors go to trial first.
The federal trial, which is set to begin on October 13, is also related to the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces a life sentence if convicted of federal stalking charges and 25 years to life in prison if found guilty at the state trial.
His lawyers had asked the federal judge to push the trial back to next year, but the request was denied, citing public support for Mangione, who has become a folk hero to some Americans who decry high costs for U.S. medical care and health insurer practices.
