Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges tied to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, The New York Times reports.
Mangione appeared in Manhattan court Monday, Dec. 23, to enter his pleas to the 11 charges against him, including first-degree murder as an act of terrorism. He’s also facing two second-degree murder charges, as well as several weapons charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole
During the hearing, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, raised concerns over her client’s treatment and right to a fair trial. “His rights are being violated,” she said. “He’s a young man, and he is being treated like a human ping pong ball.”
Agnifilo specifically took issue with Mangione’s perp walk last week after his extradition to New York from Pennsylvania, with Mayor Eric Adams also making an appearance. Agnifilo called the scene “unnecessary” and “utterly political” and questioned Adams’ appearance, especially since he faces a federal indictment of his own.
“What was the New York City mayor doing at this press conference,” she asked, adding that Adams “should know more than anyone about the presumption of innocence.”
Outside the courtroom, per reports, a handful of spectators gathered, including some supporting Mangione and protesting the American health care system. One sign read, “United States Healthcare Stole My Livelihood”; another said, “Murder for Profit is Terrorism”; and another read, “Deny, Defend, Depose” — an obvious allusion to the words written on the shell casings of the bullets that killed Thompson.
Along with the state case against him, Mangione is facing federal murder and stalking charges. He appeared in Manhattan federal court last week, where he pleaded not guilty to those charges as well. Mangione’s state case is expected to go to trial before the federal one.