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By Sean O'Driscoll
Senior Crime and Courts Reporter
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Murder suspect Luigi Mangione can't possibly be expected to store 15,000 pages of evidence in his prison cell, his attorney told a judge.
Why It Matters
Mangione, 26, allegedly shot and killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York on December 4, 2024, as a protest against the medical insurance business. He faces federal murder charges that could carry the death penalty.
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He additionally faces six charges in New York state, including murder in the furtherance of terrorism, for which he could serve life without parole. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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What to Know
Mangione's lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has argued that Mangione can't mount a defense if he has to store all of the 15,000 pages of disclosed prosecution evidence in his New York prison cell.
In a filing to New York Supreme Court on March 21, Friedman Agnifilo asked that Mangione be allowed to possess a laptop so that she can give him a flash drive containing all of the prosecution evidence.
Laptop Needed
"Without a laptop, counsel would have to print out more than 15,000 pages of discovery for Mr. Mangione to keep in his cell pending his trial. There is a good reason why the District Attorney's Office provides discovery to defense attorneys in an electronic format, as it aids in review by having discovery easily accessible and in a searchable format," she wrote.
Friedman Agnifilo added that "the District Attorney's Office could never justify providing 15,000 pages of paper discovery to defense counsel without also providing it in an electronic format. But that is exactly what they are doing to Mr. Mangione."
477748-mangione-defence-filing.pdf.PDF
Witness Intimidation
She noted that the District Attorney's office objected to a laptop for Mangione because witnesses have already been intimidated by Mangione supporters.
The District Attorney's office argues that if Mangione learns the names of additional witnesses, they may also be intimidated.
Friedman Agnifilo wrote that this belief was completely unwarranted.
"The District Attorney's Office has no basis to believe that Mr. Mangione has any connection to the alleged witness threats. This is particularly true given that the prosecution has not yet provided counsel with the names of any civilian witnesses or their information," she wrote.
No Internet, Video Games
Mangione is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York.
Friedman Agnifilo argued in her filing that any laptop given to Mangione would comply with the prison's regulations and would have no connection to internet, printers, wireless networks, games, or entertainment programs.
What People Are Saying
After Mangione was indicted on federal murder charges, then Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement: "As alleged, Mangione planned his attack for months and stalked his victim for days before murdering him — methodically planning when, where, and how to carry out his crime.
"I am grateful to our state and local law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to locate and apprehend the defendant and to ensure that he answers for his alleged crime."
What Happens Next
The court will allow prosecutors the opportunity to respond.
The District Attorney's office has already explained to Friedman Agnifilo by email that it objects to laptop access for Mangione.
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