Luigi Mangione Appears In NYC Court For State Case

NEW YORK CITY — Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in state court on Friday.

The 26-year-old has pleaded not guilty to first-degree and second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the state case.

The latest court appearance on Friday was a status check on the ongoing case, according to multiple media reports.

The judge asked both parties about whether evidence is being properly shared and if the defense team plan to file any motions in the case.

Defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo contested that Mangione's right to a fair trial was "being infringed upon because he is being publicly treated as guilty —as opposed to the presumption of innocence."

Agnifilo also brought an HBO documentary that was released earlier in the week that features NYPD officials and Mayor Eric Adams discussing evidence that has not been turned over to the defense.

A trial date for the state case was not set on Friday.

Thompson was gunned down outside a Midtown hotel on Dec. 4, sparking a massive manhunt.

Mangione was later apprehended in Pennsylvania, where he faces five charges, and extradited to New York.

Last week, for the first time, the Maryland native broke his silence in a statement published to a website set up by his legal defense team, Patch previously reported.

He said he is both "overwhelmed" and "grateful for everyone" who has written him, sharing their stories and expressing their support.

"Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded [the Metropolitan Detention Center] from across the country, and around the globe," he said. "While it is impossible for me to reply to most letters, please know that I read every one that I receive."

"Thank you again to everyone who took the time to write. I look forward to hearing more in the future," he concluded.

The statement was prefaced by a message from his legal team in New York saying that the website was created "due to the extraordinary volume of inquiries and outpouring of support."

The site will be maintained by the team to provide answers to frequently asked questions, accurate information about his cases, and to "dispel misinformation," the team said. "The intent is to share factual information regarding the unprecedented, multiple prosecutions against him."