In a court filing released on Wednesday, prosecutors revealed a hidden word of encouragement was found in Luigi Mangione‘s socks, the plaintiff in the murder trial of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.
The heart-shaped word was allegedly tucked inside an Oxford pair of socks that Mangione was given to wear to a court hearing last month, according to Manhattan prosecution. The text was intercepted by a court officer, who expressed support for the imprisoned 26-year-old. It read,” We know there are thousands of people wishing you luck.”
Mangione has entered a not-guilty plea after being accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December at a motel in Manhattan. The shooting took place close to the location of a meeting that the health plan large hosted for investors. Since then, his defense team has requested that he be given exposure to a computer in his prison cell so that he can evaluate legal documents while awaiting trial.
Prosecutor Joel Seidemann objected to the demand, contending that it constituted favorable care. He also cited earlier accommodatives made for Mangione, such as allowing him to remove his prison uniform for his court appearance on February 21. This option is usually reserved for jailed defendants in non-jury proceedings.
Mangione has gained a cult following among those who are frustrated with the US healthcare program, mainly because of expensive medical bills and denied coverage claims. Numerous supporters showed up at the receiving wearing natural, the game’s” Luigi” character’s signature color, Mario Bros. Perhaps one visitor donned a” Luigi” hat in green.
According to Seidemann, Mangione wore a clean shirt, which matched what his sympathisers had urged supporters to do.
Further, it was discovered that a second heart-shaped note, written to a person by the name” Joan,” was also hidden within the socks ‘ packaging. The recipient’s identity is still unknown. Mangione immediately put on the socks, but he eventually removed them, supposedly because he claimed that” they did not look good.”
He showed up in court while wearing shoes and a pair of shackled legs at the time of the reading.
In addition to the murder charges from Manhattan, Mangione faces federal charges in Pennsylvania for more express gun ownership and other crimes. He has not yet entered requests in those circumstances.
