Luigi Mangione’s federal murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will begin with jury selection on Sept. 8. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett said Friday that scheduling of the rest of the trial, including opening statements and testimony, is contingent on whether she allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Garnett says that if the death penalty is still in play, the next phase of the trial will begin on Jan. 11, 2027. That’s more than four months after the start of jury selection. If it’s not, opening statements will be held on Oct. 13. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state murder charges, which carry the possibility of life in prison.
Let’s say he (or anybody else) is found not guilty. You can just be kept in jail for years, waiting for the court date, even though you are innocent? How is it not ridiculous?
Someone can be arrested for a made up reason that the judge will throw out in 5 minutes, but they have to wait months/years for that to happen?
The defendant usually waives their right to a speedy trial in felony cases and asks for continuances pre trial, which his lawyers did in this federal case.