A pivotal legal hearing began in Manhattan on Monday, which will scrutinise the evidence against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering prominent healthcare executive Brian Thompson. The proceedings, expected to last up to a week, will determine whether key evidence gathered during Mangione's arrest can be used in court.
Charges and a Recent Legal Victory
Mangione faces a total of nine state charges, including second-degree murder, for the brutal killing of United HealthCare senior figure Brian Thompson in New York City last December. The slaying sparked a major manhunt and ignited public anger towards the US for-profit healthcare sector. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a significant ruling on 16 September 2025, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed the two most serious state charges against Mangione: first and second-degree murder as acts of terrorism. The judge found the evidence presented for the terrorism enhancement was legally insufficient. However, the second-degree murder charge remains among the nine counts still pending, carrying a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The Core of the Defence Argument
The focus of this week's hearing is the defence's aggressive push to have critical evidence thrown out. Mangione's legal team contends that police violated his constitutional rights during his arrest on 9 December 2024 at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Lawyers argue that officers, acting on an anonymous tip, failed to immediately inform Mangione of his right to remain silent and to have an attorney present. Consequently, they assert that any statements he made to police should be inadmissible. Furthermore, the defence claims a "warrantless search" of Mangione's backpack was conducted, and they seek to have any evidence retrieved from it barred from trial.
A Week of Critical Testimony
The hearing is set to feature testimony from more than two dozen witnesses, who will be questioned about the circumstances of the arrest and the collection of evidence. Potential witnesses include police officers directly involved in Mangione's apprehension and the subsequent investigation.
This hearing represents a crucial phase in the state's case, as its outcome could dramatically alter the evidence available to prosecutors. Mangione also faces separate federal charges in Manhattan related to the same incident. The accused has attracted a group of vocal supporters, both online and at his court appearances, as the complex legal battles continue to unfold.
