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New evidence has been released by prosecutors in the case of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. During a pretrial hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday (December 8), police revealed the contents of Mangione's backpack, which included a handgun, a silencer, a loaded magazine wrapped in underwear, and a red notebook described as a "manifesto." Mangione, 27, was arrested in December 2024 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after the alleged shooting in Manhattan.
The arrest followed a 911 call reporting a customer resembling the suspect. Altoona police officer Christy Wasser conducted a search of Mangione's backpack, initially checking for bombs. However, defense lawyers argue that the search was illegal, as police did not have a warrant at the time. Prosecutors contend the search was legal, citing police protocols for searching a suspect's belongings during an arrest. A warrant was obtained after the search.
The evidence found in the backpack, including the gun and notebook, is crucial to the case. Prosecutors argue that the handgun matches the weapon used in Thompson's murder, and the notebook contains writings that express disdain for health insurers. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges and is fighting to exclude the evidence from the trial.
The pretrial hearing is focused on determining whether the evidence was obtained legally. Mangione's defense team argues that the search violated his constitutional rights, while prosecutors maintain that the evidence is admissible. The outcome of this hearing could significantly impact the trial, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Mangione.