NEW YORK (Civitas.Global) — A judge expressed optimism on Tuesday that the pretrial hearing in Luigi Mangione’s murder case concerning the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson could conclude by Thursday.
Judge Gregory Carro noted that the hearing is progressing into its third week, with several witnesses having testified regarding the evidence gathered during Mangione's arrest on December 9, 2024.
Mangione, 27, is attempting to exclude critical items seized at the time of his arrest, including a firearm and a notebook that prosecutors assert connect him to Thompson's fatal shooting that occurred five days earlier.
During the latest hearings, testimony was provided by a Pennsylvania police evidence custodian, a New York City homicide commander, and an investigative analyst from the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Mangione has plead not guilty to both state and federal murder charges, with the current pretrial hearing addressing the state case solely. His defense team is also fighting to have evidence excluded in the federal proceedings, where the death penalty is on the table.
His arrest followed reports from McDonald's patrons in Altoona, Pennsylvania, who recognized him from news coverage regarding Thompson’s murder. The manager of the fast-food restaurant alerted the authorities, leading to his apprehension.
Details surrounding the legality of the evidence obtained during his arrest are at the center of the case. Mangione’s lawyers argue that the items taken from his backpack should not be permissible in court, claiming the search was conducted without a warrant and lacked justification for a warrantless action.
Conversely, prosecutors maintain that the search was lawful. They assert it was part of the arrest protocol and a safety measure deployed by officers to ensure no dangerous items were present. Subsequently, a warrant was obtained to further investigate the items, including a 9 mm handgun believed to match the weapon used in Thompson's murder.
Key testimony came from Officer George Featherstone, who logged the collected evidence and ensured its proper handling before it was transferred to authorities in New York. Lt. David Leonardi from NYPD's detective squad also confirmed his actions leading up to the retrieval of evidence.
The proceedings continue as both sides prepare for what could be a pivotal conclusion to this high-profile case.
