Luigi Mangione’s Lawyer Slams Courts For Impacting ‘Right To A Fair Trial’

Simran Pasricha

Feb. 22, 2025, 12:24 a.m.

The lawyer for Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has argued that her client is not being granted the right to a fair trial. The comments came during a brief procedural hearing on Friday, which drew hundreds of supporters to the New York courthouse.

Mangione, 26, showed up to the New York courthouse in a green jumper and bulletproof vest, hands and legs shackled. The scene outside was chaotic, with hundreds of supporters chanting his name and wearing shirts with his face on them.

Luigi Mangione supporters outside court. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In court, Karen Friedman Agnifilo argued that Mangione’s right to a fair trial was “continuing to be impacted” by his treatment. She took issue with his federal custody and the use of shackles, stating, “He is a model prisoner.” However, Judge Gregory Carro ruled the shackles would stay on, per the BBC.

Shackles and loafers. (Photo by Curtis Means – Pool/Getty Images)

Outside, Agnifilo expanded on her concerns: “Luigi Mangione remains in federal custody, where he is being prosecuted in three jurisdictions: by the federal government, by New York State and by Altoona, Pennsylvania. He is being held in federal custody, and the Department of Justice has refused to allow him to be in state custody, despite the fact that they’ve all agreed that the state court is going to go first, per Fox News.

“Now this is problematic for several reasons. Number one, the federal government is still considering whether to execute Luigi and considering whether to seek the death penalty, so we are fighting that simultaneously while going first here in state court, and it impacts our ability to meet with him before court after court. He’s constantly surrounded by by law enforcement. He’s in shackles.

“He’s being treated differently,” she continued.

“I made a record in court today that I don’t understand what this — [what this show of danger is for. When I go visit Luigi at MDC in Brooklyn, I sit with him. He is unshackled.”

The case has sparked a nationwide debate about the US healthcare system. Investigators think Mangione was motivated by anger towards health insurance companies when he allegedly killed Thompson, per BBC.

Mangione faces serious charges, including federal stalking and murder offences that could lead to a death penalty. He’s also up on charges in Pennsylvania for forgery and carrying firearms without a licence.

Luigi Mangione in court. (Photo by Curtis Means – Pool/Getty Images)

Agnifilo also slammed the media coverage, particularly an HBO documentary featuring interviews with the chief of detectives and the New York City Mayor. She reckons this could mess with Mangione’s chances of a fair trial.

“I understand the [New York Police Department’s] need for a press conference before an arrest or after an arrest, which they did here,” said Agnifilo.

“What I did not understand was how shocking it was that this week on HBO, in a documentary, I see the chief of detectives and the New York City Mayor in full hair and makeup done, sitting down and giving an interview for television and talking about the evidence in Luigi case. Talking about police paperwork that we don’t have. Talking about forensics that we had not yet received — I guess we have now today, but I didn’t when I was sitting there learning about the case, hearing an actor play Luigi, reading from a journal that they say is Luigi, and we have yet to receive it from the prosecution.”

The judge set a 9 April deadline for pre-trial motions. Meanwhile, Mangione’s supporters have raised over $500,000 for his legal expenses.

He’s currently in the Metropolitan Detention Centre Brooklyn, the same detention centre Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is in, who’s there on separate charges.

Lead image: Getty Images

The post Luigi Mangione’s Lawyer Slams Courts For Impacting ‘Right To A Fair Trial’ appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .