Backlash grows over funding for Luigi Mangione's defence
Supporters of Luigi Mangione, accused of the murder of Brian Thompson, have raised over $110,000 CAD for his defence. Mangione will be represented by an experienced attorney from New York.
Luigi Mangione, suspected of murdering Brian Thompson, the head of UnitedHealthcare, has received financial support from his backers. Over $110,000 CAD has been raised for his legal defence. Mangione will be represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a well-known attorney from New York, who has extensive experience in criminal cases.
Support for Mangione
Many of Mangione's sympathizers, wishing to remain anonymous, have set up online funds for his defence. Law enforcement agencies are concerned that Mangione is being portrayed as a martyr. According to the New York police report, the suspect in the shooting of Thompson on December 9 in Manhattan was driven by anger at the health insurance industry, which he accuses of "corporate greed."
New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the support for Mangione as "abhorrent" and "beyond comprehension." In an interview with ABC News, he expressed his indignation. Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro took a similar stance, calling the aid for Mangione "deeply disturbing" and emphasizing that "he is no hero."
Charges and defence
After fleeing New York, Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania, where he was charged with illegal possession of weapons and using false documents. Judge Dave Consiglio refused to release him on bail. In New York, Mangione faces a charge of second-degree murder, which means a killing committed in a sudden emotional state.
Mangione will be defended by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who previously served as the chief deputy district attorney of Manhattan. Her experience in criminal cases in New York is widely recognized. "She knows every corridor, every judge, every official in the court," notes CNN.
