In a significant development on Thursday, a New York judge has opened the possibility for Luigi Mangione to receive a laptop while he is incarcerated, provided the facility overseeing his detention grants permission. This move comes amidst preparations for his defense in the high-profile murder case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro stated he has “no objection” to the request for a laptop, which would be set up to enable Mangione to review only case-related materials. However, this decision ultimately rests with the federal authorities supervising the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Mangione is currently held awaiting trial.
The charges facing Mangione are severe, accusing him of the murder of Brian Thompson last December. Thompson, at 50, was the head of the largest health insurer in the United States when he was ambushed and killed while en route to an investor meeting in Manhattan. Originally reported missing, Mangione—a prep school and Ivy League graduate—has entered a not guilty plea to New York state charges, which include murder as an act of terrorism. Additionally, he faces a federal murder charge but has yet to declare a plea in this case.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons mentioned it would consider reviewing the laptop request, should it be officially submitted. If approved, the laptop would be stationed in a visiting area, exclusively for Mangione’s use in preparing for his defense. Judge Carro’s order followed a virtual meeting with both prosecution and defense attorneys Thursday morning, a session that the Associated Press had asked to be made public, but this request was denied.
Court spokesperson Al Baker explained that judges sometimes opt for “off-the-record virtual or in-person conferences” to deliberate on scheduling, evidence-gathering, and related procedural aspects. Mangione did not partake in the conference. The defense team filed a motion on Monday seeking access to a laptop for Mangione, citing the extensive array of documents, videos, and materials collected by the prosecution. They argued that reviewing all this information on shared computers or during attorney meetings was impractical, hence the necessity for a dedicated device.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is managing the rare case involving murder as an act of terrorism, opposes the laptop request. The prosecutors assert that Mangione’s legal team is capable of presenting him with pertinent case details. In an intriguing twist during the discussions about the laptop, prosecutors revealed the discovery of a handwritten note concealed within socks destined for Mangione to wear in court. This note, shaped like a heart and offering encouragement, was intercepted by a court officer before reaching Mangione. While his lawyers deny knowledge of the note, it remains unclear who composed it and inserted it into the socks.