The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Luigi Mangione plans to assert a psychiatric defence at his state murder trial, claiming he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance when he gunned down Unitedhealth chief executive officer Brian Thompson, a judge said Wednesday. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe says that could mean less prison time if he's convicted. A jury that accepts such a defence would be obligated to convict Mr. Mangione of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, instead of murder, which could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. An emotional disturbance defence isn't available in Mr. Mangione's federal case, where he also faces a possible life sentence. New York Judge Gregory Carro announced the defence's decision in court two weeks after holding a secret hearing on the matter. He said he will unseal a transcript and other records from that hearing once redactions are made. Judge Carro said Mr. Mangione's lawyers first raised the possibility of a psychiatric defence last year in a letter that was filed under seal and confirmed their decision at the June 3 hearing, which the judge said was held in secret at the defence's request.