Villain or hero? Everyone has thoughts on alleged healthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione – and it’s not all negative
Consider one view outside the George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC.
“I think we need to paint a mural to Luigi, what do you think?” said one passer-by, with a smile.
“I don’t endorse murder but I think it’s a good thing if CEOs are a little bit nervous.”
Everyone has a thought for the alleged assassin, Luigi Mangione, and it’s not all negative.
Villain or hero? It’s a question dividing America, and not necessarily down the middle.
A quick trawl through the internet reveals Luigi merchandise, Luigi tattoos, “Free Luigi” posters and a fundraiser for Luigi’s legal defence – which has raised $157,225 (£125,492).
Part of the murder response is all about Luigi – the part that bypasses due sympathy for the family and friends of Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old father-of-two gunned down in the street.
He was charged with first-degree murder – later modified to murder as an act of terrorism – after a manhunt that lasted five days.
If the motive was anger with the US health insurance industry, then it’s a sentiment shared.
A quick trawl through the internet reveals merchandise and tattoos supporting Luigi
Americans have long been ground down by the cost of private insurance to gain access to healthcare and the struggle that many face to secure payments.
Claims denied by insurance companies are typically made by people in their darkest hour of urgent medical need. Stories of emotional and financial trauma are legion.
Not that any of that justifies the murder of a healthcare executive on a New York street. Or does it?
I put that question to Sam Beard, organiser of the December 4th legal committee which is raising funds for Luigi Mangione’s legal defence.
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Luigi Mangione extradited to New York
He said this: “As a moral matter, it’s a difficult thing to tease out because the same logic has to apply both ways.
“A CEO had his life, tragically and surprisingly to all of his loved ones, cut short, but he was considered an effective CEO exactly because he profited from denying peoples’ claims which cut their lives short.”
“From a simple moral rule, we can’t just apply it without acknowledging that we’re in an immoral system that degrades the value of some human lives while uplifting the value of others. So when we treat this only as a moral act we are plugging our ears to its larger political meaning.
“I’m not in favour of anybody having their life tragically cut short but what I do see as undeniable is that this privatised healthcare system that does cut the lives short of hundreds of thousands of Americans every few years, may be finally getting its reckoning.”
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What we know about Luigi Mangione
The adulation attracted by Mangione troubles the authorities in New York, who fear copycat attacks.
Business executives and employees in health insurance have reported being threatened and harassed. “Wanted” posters have also been put up around New York, featuring the CEOs of at least two health insurance companies.
When the indictment against Mangione was unveiled earlier this week, New York City’s Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphatically denounced the adulation he has enjoyed.
“This was a senseless act of violence,” she said. “We don’t celebrate murders and we don’t lionise the killing of anyone.”
There’s no doubting the anger felt at the reaction in his favour – but there’s no denying it either.
World
Russia should have invaded Ukraine ‘earlier’ says Putin – as he addresses possible peace talks
Vladimir Putin has said Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier, in a national address spanning more than four hours.
Russia began the conflict with its neighbour in February 2022 and at his annual televised news conference, Mr Putin claimed the war has made Russia “stronger”.
The decision to invade “should have been made earlier” he added, before stating Russia could have “prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly”.
Ukraine war latest: Russian general inflated 2024 territorial gains, analysts find
He claimed: “Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country.
“We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defence potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world.”
The news conference also saw Mr Putin address a possible end to the war, as he said he is “ready to compromise” in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.
He said he was open to meeting Mr Trump, who has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the conflict, saying the two would “have things to discuss”.
“Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromise,” he said.
Mr Putin’s news conference being broadcast on a giant screen in Moscow. Pic: AP
“Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out, in my opinion, soon there will be no one left who wants to fight,” he continued. “We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises…”
Any talks should be based on “the situation on the ground”, Mr Putin added, referring to conditions he previously laid out.
He has previously demanded Ukraine withdraw its bid to join NATO and asked it to recognise Russia’s gains. Both Kyiv and the West have rejected those demands.
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Mr Putin also said Moscow will only be ready to sign a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he secures re-election.
Mr Zelenskyy’s five-year term technically came to an end in May but was extended due to martial law.
In response to a question about Moscow’s new hypersonic missile, he mockingly challenged the US to a “high-tech duel” to see whether Western tech could protect Ukraine from a strike using the weapon.
With a dry smile, he said: “Let them select a target, possibly in Kyiv, put their air defence assets there and we shall strike it with the Oreshnik [missile]. Let’s see what happens.”
Zelenskyy responds to Putin’s comments
Mr Putin’s comments have already sparked a strong response from Mr Zelenskyy, who is currently in Brussels for a summit on the Ukraine war.
In response to the duel suggestion, Mr Zelenskyy replied: “Do you think he is a sane person?”
Mr Zelenskyy addressing a European Union leaders summit in Brussels today. Pic: Reuters
In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, a number of EU leaders at the summit repeated a variation of a common mantra – nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden said: “We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step […] needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union.
“The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere.”
A man who repeatedly drugged his then wife and invited strangers to rape her while she was unconscious has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a historic mass trial.
Dominique Pelicot, 72, had confessed to all the charges and admitted he mixed sedatives into the food and drink of Gisele Pelicot so he could sexually assault her.
Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing
He is one of 51 men who were on trial for participating in the attacks against Ms Pelicot, 71.
All of the men were found guilty of at least one offence, with nearly all convicted of rape, after a trial which shocked France and made headlines around the world.
The defendants have been sentenced to a total of more than 400 years.
Dominique Pelicot had captured thousands of photos and videos of the men engaging in sexual acts with the victim while she was unconscious.
Following the verdicts, his lawyer said there are 11 remaining unidentified suspects from the abuse videos.
The jail term handed down to Dominique Pelicot is the maximum available for aggravated rape in France.
Follow latest: Dominique Pelicot sentencing live updates
Gisele Pelicot arrives at court to hear the verdicts
A supporter holding up a sign saying ‘Thank you Gisele’
The high profile case led women in France and other countries to join demonstrations in solidarity with Ms Pelicot – who waived her right to anonymity during the trial as she insisted it was for perpetrators to feel “shame” and not victims.
The mother-of-three, who arrived at the court in Avignon smiling today as she was welcomed by her supporters, looked at each defendant directly as they were found guilty.
She had earlier told reporters she would speak after the verdicts had been delivered.
Her supporters had shouted “justice for Gisele” and applauded her as she made her way to the courthouse.
Gisele Pelicot making her way to court today for the verdicts. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Soldier, plumber and retired firefighter among offenders
Following the sentencing of her then husband, the other 50 defendants were handed jail terms ranging between three and 15 years.
Among them were Joan K, a 27-year-old soldier who was handed a 10-year sentence for raping Ms Pelicot twice in 2019 and 2020, and Ahmed T, a 54-year-old plumber who has been jailed for eight years for raping her once in 2019.
All of the 50 defendants can only be identified by their first name and the initial of their surname for French legal reasons.
Romain V, a 63-year-old retiree, was jailed for 15 years for raping Ms Pelicot six times between December 2019 and January 2020.
Saifeddine G, a 37-year-old lorry driver who raped Ms Pelicot once at her home in 2019, was sentenced to three years in prison.
Jacques C, a 73-year-old retired firefighter, was jailed for five years for raping the victim once at her home in 2020.
During the trial, Dominique Pelicot told the court: “I am a rapist just like all the others in this room.”
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David, one of the Pelicots’ sons, gives a thumbs up outside court after the verdicts. Pic: Reuters
From left: David, Caroline and Florian make their way to court. Pic; Reuters
Ms Pelicot had insisted that the trial was held in public and the court show the explicit videos of the rapes recorded by her then husband as she wanted people to “see the truth”.
Crowds, mostly made up of women, flocked to the courthouse this morning to show their support for Ms Pelicot during the trial – waiting hours to get inside, and holding up signs that read: “Gisele: Women thank you.”
The Pelicots’ three adult children Caroline, David and Florian were also seen arriving at court for the verdicts.
Ms Pelicot sat next to her youngest son Florian during the sentencings, with David giving a thumbs-up outside the court after the hearing was over.
During the trial Caroline had shouted at her father: “You will die alone like a dog in jail.”
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‘Gisèle Pelicot is an icon!’
‘They regarded me like a rubbish bag’
The Pelicots were married for 50 years and had three children, moving to a small town in Provence after they retired.
Everything appeared normal, until Ms Pelicot’s life was torn apart in late 2020.
Her husband was arrested in September 2020 for filming up women’s skirts in a supermarket.
A sketch of Dominique Pelicot during the trial in September. Pic: Reuters
Police searched the couple’s house and electronic devices and found thousands of photos and videos of men engaging in sexual acts with Ms Pelicot while she appeared unconscious.
It was discovered that Dominique Pelicot had offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Ms Pelicot was so heavily drugged she had no recollection of being attacked and had to be told by the police what had happened to her.
The men, she told the court, treated her “like a rag doll, like a rubbish bag”.
The hard drive also contained naked images of the couple’s eldest daughter, although Dominique Pelicot denied ever abusing her, as well as images taken on a hidden camera of his pregnant daughter-in-law. Both victims also waived their right to anonymity.
Dominique Pelicot in court
The defendants put on trial were of different ages, ethnicities and social backgrounds – and had been dubbed “Monsieur Tout le monde” or “Mr Everyman” by the French press, because their backgrounds are so varied.
Most lived within a 35-mile radius of the couple, and some were even known to Ms Pelicot.
Some denied the rape charges, claiming they believed Ms Pelicot had agreed to be drugged and was a willing participant in a sex game between the couple.
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But Ms Pelicot told the court: “They didn’t rape me with a gun to their heads. They were fully conscious when they were raping me.”
She added: “Why didn’t they go to the police? Even an anonymous phone call could have saved my life.”
Debate around France’s rape law
The trial has sparked a debate about whether France should update its rape law, which does not require sex to involve consent.
Instead, prosecutors must prove a perpetrator’s intent to rape using “violence, coercion, threat or surprise”.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
If you think you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247
The Rape Crisis National Helpline can be contacted on 0808 802 9999
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