A New York judge will allow a gun and writings found in Luigi Mangione's backpack after his 2024 arrest to be presented at his state murder trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. However, Judge Gregory Carro ruled that other items are inadmissible.
Carro stated on Monday that evidence including a magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet, and computer chip must be suppressed, as they were recovered during an improper and warrantless search of the then-26-year-old at a Pennsylvania McDonald's.
Prosecutors will still be able to present items found during a lawful search at a police station, including a gun and a notebook. Carro also ruled that certain questioning of Mangione by officers at the McDonald's prior to being read his Miranda rights must be excluded from the trial.
Mangione faces charges of second-degree murder and several firearms-related offenses after the shooting of Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty and is also involved in a separate federal case.
The evidence at stake highlights the ramifications of the timing and legality of police actions, which have formed the basis of ongoing arguments in court. The trial is expected to begin in September, with both sides eager to present their cases.
