A man accused of murdering a top US health executive will have to wait until next spring to learn if a series of chilling items discovered in his backpack can be used against him in court.
Judge Delays Key Evidence Ruling Until May
Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will not receive a decision on crucial evidence until 18 May. The ruling will determine if prosecutors can present a handgun and a notebook containing an alleged 'to-do list' at his New York state trial.
The pretrial hearing concluded on Thursday, with the judge setting a schedule for written arguments. Mangione's defence team must submit their case by 29 January, with prosecutors following by 5 March.
The Contested Evidence: A Gun and Chilling Notes
Prosecutors assert that the items seized from Mangione's backpack directly link him to Thompson's shooting in Manhattan on 4 December 2024. They claim the 9 mm handgun matches the murder weapon.
More disturbingly, a notebook was found containing an entry describing an intent to "wack" a health insurance executive. Other notes outlined detailed plans, including:
- "Keep momentum, FBI slower overnight"
- "Change hat, shoes, pluck eyebrows"
The collection also featured a hand-drawn map and tactics for evading capture, which were displayed during the hearing.
Legal Battle Over Warrantless Search
Mangione's legal team is fighting to have all backpack evidence excluded. They argue the search was illegal because police lacked a warrant and did not have sufficient grounds to conduct a search without one.
In contrast, prosecutors maintain the search was lawful as it was conducted during an arrest. Officers were checking for dangerous items that could threaten their safety or public security. They later obtained a formal warrant.
The hearing featured nearly 20 witnesses, primarily police officers involved in Mangione's dramatic arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in December 2024. The defence called no witnesses.
Dual Charges and the Death Penalty
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal murder charges. This suppression hearing applies solely to the state case. His lawyers are mounting a parallel effort to block the same evidence in the federal case, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
His arrest followed a tip-off from alert customers at a Pennsylvania McDonald's, roughly 230 miles west of Manhattan, who recognised him from media reports about the New York shooting.
The wait until May leaves a critical question unanswered for both sides: will the jury ever see the haunting notes that prosecutors say reveal the mind of an alleged assassin?
