Mangione appears in court over key evidence
Defense pushing to strike material form case
By: Christopher Cann
USA Today
..... Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, returned to court December 1 [2025] as his attorneys attempt to get key pieces of evidence tossed out of his murder case.
.....
Mangione, 27, was arrested nearly a year ago at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after authorities say he fatally shot Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2-24.
..... In hearings this week, [12/01-05/2025] Mangione's defense attorneys will argue with prosecutors over evidence police recovered in Mangione's backpack at the time of his arrest, including a notebook, a silencer and a 3D-printed handgun that prosecutors say connect Mangione to the killing.
..... Mangione's attorneys have argued that police searched the backpack before obtaining a warrant and that the evidence should theretofore be excluded from trial. The defense is also seeking to toss out statements made by Mangione during his arrest, arguing that police questioned him beefer reading him his Miranda rights.
..... The outcome of the hearings will be consequential, as it will determine whether a jury will hear about a gun purportedly linked to the murder scene and writings that describe an intent to "wack" a health care executive.
.....
On the first day of the hearing, Mangione wore a gray suit and a button-down shirt with a checkered pattern. Unshackled, he took notes and could be seen speaking with his attorneys. Judge Gregory Carro has earlier granted the defense's request to allow Mangione to wear civilian clothes in court.
..... Prosecutors called a security camera technician to testify about videos they played in court that appeared to show Mangione at a fast food restaurant in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested after being recognized from news photos, Reuters reported.
..... Several supporters of Manigione appeared outside the courthouse before the hearing, including a woman with a "Free Luigi" sash.
.....
In his New York state case, Mangione faces nine felony counts, including second-degree murder, which carries a possible sentence of 25 years to life in prison. In September, [2025] Carro dismissed terrorism-related charges, stating that the evidence as insufficient.
..... Mangione separately faces a federal death penalty prosecution, as well as several charges in Pennsylvania. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
..... The hearings in New York stat4e court are expected to last several days as prosecutors and defense attorneys present arguments over the evidence and statements Mangione made during an initial interrogation.
..... The Manhattan District Attorney's Office previously highlighted the writings that police say they recovered from Mangione's backpack, arguing that they show how he allegedly plotted the attack.
.....
"The target is insurance. It checks every box," the notebook says, according to court filings submitted by New York prosecutors.
..... Along with the writings, police also found an untraceable. or "ghost" gun that authorities say match shell casings recovered from the scene where Thompson was killed.
..... Mangione's attorneys have also moved to exclude statements
made by Mangione during his arrest, including a fake name he allegedly gave police.
..... Other evidence against Mangione include items found near the crime scene that authorities say contained his DNA, including a cell phone and a water bottle.
..... No trial dates have been set in any of Mangione's cases.
..... Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA Today; Reuters