NEW YORK, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A New York federal judge on

Friday dismissed murder and ‌weapons charges against alleged

UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, ​a major blow to

prosecutors that means ‍Mangione no longer faces ⁠a possible ⁠death

penalty if convicted.

Mangione, 27, previously pleaded not ‌guilty to murder,

weapons ​and stalking charges for allegedly gunning down the CEO

of UnitedHealthcare ⁠in Midtown Manhattan ‍in ​2024. Public

officials condemned the shocking killing, but Mangione became a

folk hero of ‍sorts to some Americans who decry steep healthcare

costs and insurance practices.

U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in Manhattan said

she dismissed the ​murder ‍and weapons charges because they were

legally incompatible with the two ​counts of stalking Mangione

faces.

Garnett previously scheduled jury selection to begin in the case

in September.

Mangione has separately pleaded not guilty to murder,

weapons and forgery charges in ​Manhattan state court. No trial

date has been set.

(Reporting by Jack Queen and Ryan Patrick Jones; ‍editing by

Susan Heavey and Chizu Nomiyama )