Who is Karen Friedman Agnifilo? Top New York legal professional Luigi Mangione retained for authorized defence | EUROtoday

Luigi Mangione has retained a prime New York legal professional for his authorized defence in reference to the capturing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The govt, 50, was gunned down exterior the New York Hilton in Midtown Manhattan on 4 December.

Following a large week-long manhunt, Mangione, 26, was arrested after being seen consuming a meal inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday morning, with an worker calling the tip into police.

The 26-year-old is at the moment being held in a Pennsylvania jail with out bond as he fights extradition to New York the place he faces a second-degree homicide cost. He has additionally been charged with gun regulation violations in Pennsylvania.

Thomas Dickey, a seasoned trial legal professional with greater than 40 years of expertise, has been representing the capturing suspect in Pennsylvania, since being introduced the case on Tuesday.

Shooting suspect Luigi Mangione is taken right into a Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday ((Benjamin B. Braun/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by way of AP))

Mangione has now retained high-powered legal professional Karen Friedman Agnifilo to signify him in his authorized case in New York, CNN reported.

Here, The Independent takes a take a look at what we find out about Ms Agnifilo.

The 26-year-old is at the moment being held in a Pennsylvania jail with out bond as he fights extradition to New York the place he faces a second-degree homicide cost (AP)

Who is Ms Agnifilo

Ms Agnifilo is a veteran of New York City’s prison justice system, having labored in prison justice, litigation and trials for 3 many years, after graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Georgetown University Law Center.

The majority of her profession was spent as a public servant, together with because the chief assistant district legal professional within the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

She labored in that position underneath Cyrus Vance Jr. for seven years from 2014 to 2021, having served elsewhere within the workplace over the earlier 4 years.

Brian Thompson, 50, was gunned down exterior the New York Hilton in Midtown Manhattan on 4 December (AP)

Ms Agnifilo has additionally been common counsel to the New York City Mayor’s Office’s prison justice coordinator, the place she labored for Michael Bloomberg, who was mayor on the time, on overhauling the town’s prison justice coverage.

She has been in non-public apply since 2021, and is at the moment companion at Agnifilo Law Group.

The legal professional additionally continuously seems within the media as a commentator. She was once a authorized analyst for CNN and is at the moment the authorized advisor for TV present Law and Order. She additionally co-hosts a weekly authorized podcast, which pulls lots of of 1000’s of listeners.

What have others mentioned about her

An skilled New York prosecutor has spoken of Ms Agnifilo’s in depth authorized expertise.

Pennsylvania State Police launched a picture of Luigi Mangione consuming contained in the Altoona McDonald’s department (AP)

They instructed CNN: “She’s got as much experience as any human being, especially in the state court. She knows every corridor, every judge, every clerk in the courthouse.”

What has she mentioned about Mangione’s case

Ms Agnifilo reportedly declined to touch upon Mangione’s case to CNN, together with when a consultant was requested who’s paying his authorized charges.

Mr Dickey has refused to be drawn on whether or not Mangione’s outstanding Baltimore household is fronting his authorized prices. However, he did inform CNN that members of the general public have supplied funding.

Thomas Dickey speaks to press in entrance of the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition listening to on Tuesday (Getty Images)

Mr Dickey, who has denied his consumer’s involvement within the New York capturing, has anticipated that Mangione will plead not responsible to the homicide cost in addition to to different counts within the metropolis. The legal professional has additionally steered Mangione will deny prices associated to a gun and pretend ID that police mentioned they discovered once they arrested him.

The Independent has approached Ms Agnifilo for remark.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/karen-friedman-agnifilo-luigi-mangione-attorney-defence-b2664346.html