Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The New York Supreme Court, through Justice Gregory Carro, issued a landmark ruling on Monday, May 18, 2026, in the Luigi Mangione murder case.
The ruling allows the 3D-printed gun and notebook found in Mangione's backpack to be used as evidence in the state trial.
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Luigi Mangione himself is charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024.
Mangione's arrest happened five days after the incident, on December 9, 2024, at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The 3D-printed gun is strongly suspected as the murder weapon, while the notebook provides a deeper understanding of motive, giving the prosecution a strategic advantage in Luigi Mangione's upcoming trial.
Key Evidence Admitted in Luigi Mangione's Trial
A 3D-printed pistol found in Luigi Mangione's backpack is one of the key pieces of evidence allowed.
Prosecutors believe this pistol matches the weapon used to kill Brian Thompson.
In addition to the pistol, a handwritten notebook belonging to Luigi Mangione is also a key piece of evidence that will be presented.
The notebook contains explicit writings describing a desire to "take out" a health insurance executive, as well as expressions of rebellion against "a health insurance cartel driven by murderous greed."
Prosecutors have quoted extensively from this diary, even highlighting Mangione's praise of the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, which suggests a strong motive.
Judge Carro ruled that these items are admissible as evidence because they were discovered during the backpack's inventory at the police station.
This inventory procedure constituted an exception to the US Constitution's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, particularly because police had obtained a search warrant within hours of Luigi Mangione's arrest.
Excluded Evidence and the Judge's Reasoning for Denial
While some evidence was permitted, Judge Carro also ruled to exclude several items officers removed from Luigi Mangione's backpack before his arrest at the McDonald's restaurant.
These items included a loaded firearm magazine, a cell phone, a passport, a wallet, and a computer chip.
In addition to these items, several initial statements Luigi Mangione made to police before being handcuffed were also excluded from evidence.
The reason for this exclusion was that Judge Carro stated that the initial search at McDonald's constituted an "improper warrantless search."
The backpack was not within Mangione's immediate reach at the time of his arrest, thus posing no security concerns or risk of destroying evidence.
The judge also highlighted that the search was conducted inside the restaurant, in front of customers and employees, which was inconsistent with officers' claims of concerns about explosives.
Trial Schedule and Serious Charges
Luigi Mangione's case is about to enter a crucial trial phase.
Mangione's state murder trial is scheduled to begin on September 8th.
Meanwhile, his federal trial, involving stalking charges, will begin on October 13th with jury selection, and opening statements and testimony will begin on November 4th.
At the New York state level, he was charged with eleven counts, including two counts of second-degree murder and multiple weapons charges.
Although a first-degree murder charge in the commission of terrorism was initially filed, it was later dropped.
At the federal level, Luigi Mangione faces four counts, including use of a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking resulting in death.
Despite facing serious charges, Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If convicted on either count, Mangione could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison.