UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect Requests Court Appearance Without Shackles, Vest

Luigi Mangione, accused of the 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has had his lawyers file a motion requesting that he be allowed to appear in court without handcuffs or a bulletproof vest. His defense team argues that Mangione has been a model prisoner and defendant, cooperating fully with authorities, and that the restraints prejudice his right to a fair trial by portraying him as an unusually dangerous individual. They contend that the visible shackling and bulletproof vest, often captured by media and circulated widely, reinforce a damaging public narrative and impair his ability to participate meaningfully in his defense. Mangione's lawyers also highlight that similar security measures were not imposed during his federal court appearances, where he faces potential death penalty charges. The motion is pending a decision by Judge Gregory Carro ahead of Mangione's June 26 state court hearing. The defense stresses that these security measures are unnecessary, given the precautions like metal detectors, and that removing them would align with standard treatment of defendants while safeguarding Mangione's trial rights.