Judge Rules on Admissibility of Evidence in Luigi Mangione's Murder Trial

A New York judge has ruled that a gun and notebook found in Luigi Mangione's backpack can be used as evidence in his upcoming murder trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro's decision allows prosecutors to present these items, which were discovered during an inventory search at the police station following Mangione's arrest. The gun is a 3D-printed pistol, and the notebook contains writings that prosecutors argue indicate a motive for the crime.

However, Judge Carro also determined that items found during an initial, warrantless search of Mangione's backpack at the time of his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, must be suppressed. These items include a gun magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet, and computer chip. The judge stated that the initial search was improper because the backpack was not within Mangione's immediate reach during the arrest.

Mangione was arrested on December 9, 2024, five days after Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges related to the case. His state murder trial is scheduled to begin on September 8, with a separate federal trial on stalking charges set for October.