The legal team for alleged assassin Luigi Mangione is preparing for a crucial legal battle this week, aiming to have pivotal evidence thrown out before his trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Key Evidence Under Scrutiny
Mangione, 27, is due in a New York court from Monday for pretrial hearings where his lawyers will argue to prevent prosecutors from presenting items seized during his arrest. The evidence in question includes a 9mm handgun that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office claims matches the weapon used in the killing, and a handwritten notebook. Prosecutors allege the notebook contains Mangione's stated intent to 'wack' a health insurance executive.
Mangione faces charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the point-blank shooting of Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024. The CEO was killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for his company's annual investor conference.
Defence Claims Constitutional Violations
Following the dismissal of state terrorism charges in September, Mangione's defence is now focusing on what they label unconstitutional police conduct. They argue that officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, improperly searched his backpack and questioned him without reading his Miranda rights after a five-day manhunt ended at a McDonald's.
The defence contends that police lacked a warrant to search the backpack where the gun and diary were found. They have pointed to body camera footage where an officer is seen rifling through the bag, claiming to check for a bomb, which the defence calls a pretext for an illegal search.
Furthermore, they seek to suppress statements Mangione made before being read his rights, such as allegedly giving a false name. Excluding the gun and notebook would represent a major victory for the defence and a significant setback for the prosecution, stripping them of a potential murder weapon and key motive evidence.
A Case with National Attention
The prosecution has cited extensively from Mangione's diary in court filings, noting his praise for Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and musings about rebelling against the 'greed fueled health insurance cartel.' The case has attracted widespread attention, with Mangione garnering supporters who view him as a symbol for healthcare reform. He reportedly receives up to 200 letters daily while held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, and supporters are expected to attend this week's hearings in large numbers.
Separately, Mangione's lawyers are fighting federal charges, including two counts of stalking and a firearms offence, for which Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The defence has accused former President Donald Trump and Bondi of political interference, prejudicing the case with public comments. Federal prosecutors have rejected these claims, stating the officials involved are not part of the prosecution team.
This week's hearings, presided over by State Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro, will involve more than 20 witnesses and could last several days. Mangione's team has prepared for an extended stay, requesting additional clothing from the Bureau of Prisons. A ruling on the evidence's admissibility is expected to follow the hearings, shaping the trajectory of a trial that could see Mangione face life in prison on state charges and the death penalty federally.
