Overview

• A 114-page defense motion asks a federal judge to remove the capital option, arguing a choreographed, televised helicopter perp walk violated due-process rights and tainted the jury pool.
• The filing cites public comments by officials, including President Donald Trump, as creating prejudice that the defense says makes a fair trial impossible.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in the case tied to the Dec. 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
• In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed two terrorism counts but allowed a second-degree murder charge to proceed.
• Federal prosecutors have until Oct. 31 to reply to the motion, with pretrial hearings scheduled for Dec. 1 in state court and Dec. 5 in federal court.