Luigi Mangione needs laptop in jail: UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect wants to prepare for legal defense

The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, 26 years old, has filed a formal request to have access to a laptop while in jail, according to CNN, saying that it is crucial for him to be able to prepare his defense properly.

On the other hand, his lawyers are saying it is not possible for him to properly go through the large amount of evidence without the help of a personal computer.

Legal Team Cites Overwhelming Evidence Load

Mangione, who himself used to be a computer science graduate from an Ivy League school, now pleads not guilty to some of the charges, including terrorism as a cause for killing, as reported by CNN.

The prosecutors argue that he killed Thompson in a cold-blooded and premeditated manner due to his lingering grudges against the healthcare industry. It is reported that some anti-corporate writings and messages were found near the crime scene.

Per his defense lawyers, among the evidence included in the discovery materials for the case are a total of more than 15,000 pages of documents and 800 gigabytes of digital evidence.

They argue that the visitation hours won't help Mangione review all the materials because they are vast. A laptop with a secure configuration that can only be used to read the documents and does not access the internet would allow him to be a part of his own defense.

Prosecutors Oppose Laptop Access Over Security Concerns

The prosecutors have provided strong reasons against the request, pointing out the grave security risks. Also, they said that issuing Mangione a computer, even if it is offline, might turn into a threat to the security of the court, for the nature of the case is such that some sensitive data can be lost or corrupted.

Although the prosecutor's allegations regarding witness threats do not point to Mangione directly, they argue that allowing him to access a laptop could lead to a dangerous trend.

Supporters and Critics React

The case of Mangione has been the topic of a public debate, and some people are arguing that depriving him of a laptop is bringing injustice to his constitutional right to a fair trial.

His supporters, like the criminal justice reform advocacy groups, say that the high-profile defendants often face undue restrictions, which restrict their possibilities to give a proper defense.

At the same time, some of Thompson's former colleagues think that Mangione’s request is his attempt to manipulate the system.

What’s Next?

The judge is to pronounce a judgment in the upcoming weeks on the laptop request. In case of the verdict, strict restrictions may be imposed on its usage that will allow it to be utilized just for legal research and document review.

Mangione is currently in custody without bail while he is waiting for the trial that is planned for later this year. His possible conviction will lead him to a lifelong sentence with the "no-parole" condition.