NEW YORK: Two young radicalised alleged assassins appeared in US courts in a nation focused on rising political violence.
Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared in a local Utah court remotely to face charges in the killing of Charlie Kirk, a close supporter of US President Donald Trump, last week.
He is charged with the murder of the Conservative youth activist, and the prosecutor said that he would seek the death penalty, which in the state can be carried out by a firing squad.
In New York, a local judge threw out terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, 27, who is charged with killing a health insurance CEO last year, but retained murder charges against him.
New York State does not have the death penalty.
Mangione has emerged as a lightning rod for the fury of some people against health insurance companies, and his supporters rallied in front of the court in protesting his prosecution.
A fund for his legal defence has collected over $1 million in public contributions.
Mangione allegedly shot dead United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the middle of New York City last December, and in a manifesto ranted against “parasitical” health companies driven by profit motive.
Both men will also face charges in a federal court under federal statutes, which could carry the death penalty.
In the US, there are parallel federal and state justice systems, and the laws and penalties vary by state.