education

Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last December, appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing where his defense team is challenging the legality of evidence obtained during his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. His attorneys argue that police violated his constitutional rights by searching his backpack without a warrant and questioning him before reading his Miranda rights, seeking to exclude crucial evidence including a 9mm handgun and a notebook allegedly containing his motives. While legal experts say the chances of successfully suppressing this evidence are extremely slim due to exceptions for manhunt situations, the hearing allows the defense to preview prosecution witness testimony and lock in their statements for potential inconsistencies at trial. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal murder charges that could carry the death penalty, though terrorism-related state charges were previously dismissed.