Luigi Mangione Lawyer Says 'Right To A Fair Trial' Compromised, Supporters Show Up To Court

Luigi Mangione was back in court Friday for an update on the state charges against him in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

What Happened: Friday marked Mangione's first court date since December, when he pleaded not guilty to state charges. The suspected killer also faces federal charges, with the potential of the death penalty if convicted.

Mangione's lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo called out several parties who appeared in a recent HBO true crime documentary on the Mangione case. Agnificlo said New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny appeared on the documentary. HBO is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery WBD.

"My shock that the chief of detectives of the NYPD along with the NYC mayor had time to sit down with HBO and put hair and makeup and….talk about their theories of the case," Agnifilo said, as reported by Newsweek.

Mangione's lawyer said that his "right to a fair trial is continuously being impacted." His lawyer cited the Pennsylvania arrest at a McDonald's and said his client’s constitutional rights were violated there as well.

"I think there's a very serious search issue in this matter."

While discussing evidence in the case, Agnifilo said the defense team has not received the bulk of the discovery including police records, phone records or he so-called manifesto found on Mangione at the time of his arrest.

Items like DNA and forensic testing, policy body cam footage, witness statements and the autopsy report were turned over Friday, according to the report.

Judge Gregory Carro also said Mangione was to remain handcuffed during Friday's trial for his safety, something his lawyer took exception with and wanted on the record.

Luigi Mangione just now arriving at the New York Supreme Criminal Court for his first court appearance of the year. pic.twitter.com/p2bfevDMbs
— The Luigi Case (@LuigiCaseFiles) February 21, 2025

Why It's Important: The judge did not provide an update on the trial timeline in the case Friday. Mangione did not speak during Friday's hearing.

Mangione also faces federal charges that could include a death penalty sentence upon conviction. The accused killer has not yet entered a plea for the federal charges. Mangione's next court hearing on the federal charges is scheduled for March 19, according to the report.

A large group of supporters of the suspected killer were spotted outside the courtroom and inside the public gallery during Friday's trial. Some supporters had signs that read "patients before profits" and "Free Luigi."

A legal defense fund for Mangione has raised over $514,000 in donations through Friday, as reported by the New York Post. The funds are said to help pay Mangione's legal fees as he recently beefed up his legal team.

The online fundraiser reached its previous target and now has its sights set on raising $1 million.

Mangione thanked people for his support in his first statement from prison last week.

"I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support," Mangione's statement said.

UnitedHealthcare, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group UNH, is the largest individual player in Medicare Advantage with 7.8 million members, the company's latest earnings report revealed. The company also has 4.3 million members enrolled in Medicare supplement plans through UnitedHealthcare. It also has 3 million people enrolled in standalone Part D coverage.

The company is now the subject of a Department of Justice investigation over its Medicare billing practices, which was announced Friday morning.

UNH Price Action: UnitedHealth stock is down 7.3% to $465.60 on Friday versus a 52-week trading range of $436.38 to $630.73. The stock is down 11% over the last year.

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