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In what one criminal defense attorney told NBC News is a a “massive win” for Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, NY State Judge Gregory Carro ruled key evidence found in his backpack in Altoona, Pennsylvania in December 2024 inadmissible in his upcoming September state of New York criminal trial.
[WATCH MY VIDEO REPORT on this breaking news above]
Carro called the search of Mangione at an Altoona McDonald’s an “improper warrantless search” and ruled the following items blocked from being used at trial:
Gun magazine
Cell phone
Wallet
Passport
Computer chip
Certain statements Mangione made to Altoona police
“Even a partial win here is a massive win for the defense,” criminal defense attorney Danny Cevallos told NBC News about the ruling.
Despite the partial favorable ruling for Mangione, the Judge did rule that other key evidence could be used at trial—namely the gun Mangione allegedly used and a notebook prosecutors have described as Mangione’s so-called “manifesto.”
As I point out in the above video, the fact that the Judge ruled the police search of Mangione’s backpack improper and warrantless is significant for Mangione’s defense in two ways; first, it could persuade one juror out of 12—all the defense needs—that Mangione was railroaded and his rights were violated. Second, if Mangione is convicted in the state of NY trial, the Judge’s words can be one building block of a strong appeal.
Mangione’s NY state trial is scheduled to begin in September; his federal trial will follow soon after in October.
Status Coup would love to cover both cases on a daily basis ON THE GROUND in NYC—but need more financial support to afford to do so. If you value this investigative, ON-THE-GROUND justice journalism, please sign up as a paying member for as low as $5 bucks a month (16 cents a day).
