Judge dismisses ‘murder as an act of terrorism’ charge, but keeps second-degree murder count, as the Ivy League graduate’s case continues to attract a cult following.

A New York judge has dismissed the state’s terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League graduate accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. However, second-degree murder charges against Mangione will proceed.

Judge Gregory Carro’s decision rejects the argument that the killing was an act of terrorism under state law, though he noted that the crime was not “ordinary street crime.”

The ruling came during Mangione’s first court appearance in the state case since February. His lawyers had argued that the New York case, alongside a parallel federal death penalty prosecution, constituted double jeopardy.

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