A New York judge has concluded a crucial pretrial hearing and will deliver a ruling in May on what evidence can be presented at the murder trial of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Key Evidence Under Scrutiny
The hearing, which wrapped up on Thursday 18 December 2025, centred on a defence motion to exclude critical items from the trial. Prosecutors allege that a 9mm handgun and a notebook found in Mangione's backpack directly link him to Thompson's shooting in Manhattan on 4 December 2024. They claim the gun matches the murder weapon and the notebook contains an entry describing an intent to 'wack' a health insurance executive.
Mangione's legal team vehemently contests the admissibility of this evidence. They argue the search of his backpack was unlawful, as police did not have a warrant and lacked probable cause for a warrantless search. Prosecutors counter that the search was justified as it was conducted during an arrest to ensure officer and public safety, and a warrant was later obtained.
Path to a May Ruling
Judge Carro has set a clear timetable for final written arguments. Mangione's defence must submit their summary by 29 January, with prosecutors given until 5 March to respond. The judge has scheduled his final ruling on the evidence for 18 May.
The prosecution called nearly 20 witnesses over three weeks, many of them police officers involved in Mangione's arrest in December 2024. Notably, the defence chose not to call any witnesses during this hearing phase.
Broader Legal Battle and Arrest Details
This pretrial hearing applies specifically to the state murder case, where Mangione has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers are mounting a parallel effort to exclude the same evidence from a separate federal case, in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Mangione's arrest occurred under remarkable circumstances. He was identified by customers while eating breakfast at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, a city roughly 230 miles west of Manhattan. The restaurant manager alerted a 911 dispatcher, reporting that customers believed 'he looks like the CEO shooter from New York.'
The upcoming May ruling will be a pivotal moment, shaping the trajectory of a high-profile trial that has captured significant attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
