NEW YORK (AP) — A significant hearing in the murder case involving Luigi Mangione is ongoing as of Thursday, marking a year since the tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
At 27 years old, Mangione has entered a plea of not guilty to both state and federal charges linked to the murder. Prior to any scheduled trials, his legal team is working to prevent potential jurors from being exposed to statements he allegedly made to law enforcement and various items — notably a gun and a notebook — purportedly pulled from his backpack.
These pieces of evidence are pivotal to the prosecution's argument, which asserts that a 9 mm handgun found matches that used in the murder, and that the notebook's contents express Mangione's hostility toward health insurers along with notions about targeting a CEO.
Thompson, 50, was fatally shot while attending an investor conference on December 4, 2024, soon after his appointment as CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021, following a two-decade career within the parent company UnitedHealth Group Inc.
This hearing has commenced earlier in the week and may continue into the coming week, primarily focused on the state case. However, it has offered an extended preview of possible testimonies, video evidence, and audio of 911 calls relevant to the proceedings.
Details regarding the expected witnesses or evidence for Thursday remain unclear.
As highlighted in Tuesday's session, police body-camera footage documented the moments leading to Mangione's confrontation at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Officers were astonished to discover that he was the suspect in Thompson's killing that had captured significant media attention just days prior. They engaged with him for approximately 20 minutes, posing inquiries about his name, recent travels to New York, and his observable anxiety.
While maintaining a relaxed demeanor, officers suggested they were merely addressing a complaint about loitering and discussing Mangione's steak sandwich. They proceeded to search his backpack and during the encounter, they warned him that he could be arrested if he continued to use a false name. Following the revelation of his true identity, he was subsequently read his rights, cuffed, and arrested on charges of forgery tied to the fake identification.
The recorded footage includes glimpses of police searching his belongings, a point that is anticipated to be revisited as the hearing progresses.
Mangione's defense claims that his statements should not be included as trial evidence because police began their questioning without first informing him of his rights. Furthermore, they argue that the items from his backpack should be excluded since police did not procure a warrant before searching his bag.
Manhattan prosecutors have yet to disclose their reasoning for the inclusion of this contested evidence. In contrast, federal prosecutors argued that police acted validly in examining the backpack to ensure it contained no threats, and assert that Mangione voluntarily made statements before his arrest.
Disputes surrounding evidence and the legal framework surrounding police interactions with suspects frequently arise in criminal proceedings.
