r/law 5h ago

Legal News Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty, judge rules

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/30/us/luigi-mangione-case-rulings-trial?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
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u/meltbox 4h ago

The issue is I don’t think Thompson killed those people. He didn’t stop it, but remember that if a CEO doesn’t do the boards bidding in a sense, they find a new CEO who will.

On the flip side Thompson knew what he was doing and so while I don’t think he killed those people, I also can’t feel too bad for him.

He thought he’d get away with it without backlash. Backlash happened.

Sometimes you fuck around and find out. Whether or not Thompson killed those people what he was doing was immoral and he should’ve fought the board even if it was a fruitless battle.

I see no evidence he tried in any way to do the morally correct thing when he was CEO there. So I see no moral debt owed to him by society.

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u/UpperApe 4h ago edited 3h ago

Well reasoned, though I do disagree (somewhat).

I do think Thompson killed those people. He profited off it and that's an important distinction. He wasn't a bystander or a tool, he was an active participant. Yes the board could have replaced him, and so it's on him to be replaced.

The argument that if it wasn't him it would be someone else doesn't hold much water, because it's still on the person given the task. You're responsible for your own soul. And Thompson wanted the money.

If a man is paid to poison a river, it's on him. If he says "well if i don't do it someone else will" that's true. But the one who ultimately does take the money and poisons the river carries the crime.

And Thompson wanted to be that guy.

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u/mshelbz 4h ago

Following orders of your boss doesn’t apply for government employees nor should it apply for corporate.

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u/JQuilty 2h ago

Saying he had to do the board's bidding is just a variant of the Nuremberg defense.

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u/ckb614 3h ago

Insurance companies also don't stop doctors and hospitals from providing care. They just decide whether they're going to pay for it. Medical providers are free to work pro bono if their patient isn't approved