Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has made a specific request as he awaits his trial.
Mangione, aged 26, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces multiple charges, including 11 state criminal counts in New York such as murder as an act of terrorism, state-level gun possession, and additional charges in Pennsylvania, along with federal stalking and murder offenses.
His next court appearance is scheduled for April. Meanwhile, Mangione has made a request through his attorneys.
The request, disclosed on March 24, involves Mangione’s attorneys petitioning for him to have access to a laptop during his time in jail.
According to his lawyers, Mangione has a legitimate need for a computer—not for social media or games—but to review materials related to his murder case.
Mangione’s defense team has proposed configuring the laptop to eliminate internet, movies, or other entertainment, focusing solely on accessing over 15,000 pages of documents, thousands of hours of video, and other case-related materials.
Such arrangements have been granted to other federal detainees in the past. However, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is reportedly opposed to this request, as stated by Mangione’s lawyers to The Associated Press.
The opposition is allegedly due to concerns over threats against witnesses, though defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo stated, “[There is] no connection to Mr. Mangione for any of said alleged threats.”
Should the request be denied, Mangione would still be able to access essential case materials, albeit limited to sessions with his legal team.
Mangione’s defense argues that the visiting hours available are insufficient for him to thoroughly review all necessary materials to adequately prepare his defense.
A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson, a father of two, outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in New York, but has yet to enter a plea for federal charges or those in Pennsylvania.
If convicted in the federal case, Mangione may face the death penalty.