Luigi Mangione is set to assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to reporting from multiple outlets. At a hearing, a judge overseeing the case says Mangione’s lawyers informed the court that they plan to argue he was suffering from “extreme emotional disturbance” at the time of the alleged shooting. The defense, if accepted, would potentially reduce criminal liability compared with a murder conviction. Several sources describe the argument as a form of psychiatric mitigation that could lead to a lesser charge, such as manslaughter, depending on how the jury evaluates the claim. The reports also identify the legal framework in similar terms, noting that the jury’s acceptance of Mangione’s state of mind could affect sentencing outcomes. No outlet in the provided set presents evidence on the merits of the defense; the coverage focuses on what the defense team plans to pursue and what the judge indicates in court. The case proceeds under state law, with the trial scheduled to consider the role of Mangione’s alleged mental state during the incident.