Luigi Mangione wins evidentiary hearing on backpack search after judge's about-face decision

In an about-face connected Monday, a national justice has decided to clasp an evidentiary proceeding to find if Luigi Mangione’s backpack was lawfully seized and searched wrong an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonald’s during his arrest. 

Judge Margaret Garnett wrote successful a tribunal bid that she considered "both the arguments made by counsel" during Friday’s proceeding and "the seriousness of the charges the Defendant is facing" earlier walking backmost her erstwhile determination deeming the proceeding unnecessary. 

The proceeding is expected to see grounds from an Altoona constabulary serviceman regarding the department’s procedures "for securing, safeguarding [and] inventorying the idiosyncratic spot of a idiosyncratic arrested successful a nationalist place." 

NYC PROSECUTORS SHARE EVIDENCE PHOTOS REVEALING LUIGI MANGIONE'S POSSESSIONS AT TIME OF ARREST

Luigi Mangione appears for a suppression of grounds proceeding successful the sidesplitting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson successful Manhattan Criminal Court connected Dec. 16, 2025, successful New York City.  (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

However, the justice clarified that the witnesser chosen by the prosecution was not required to beryllium 1 of the officers progressive successful Mangione’s arrest.

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The determination comes aft respective Altoona officers testified successful authorities tribunal regarding Mangione’s petition to exclude grounds seized by constabulary during his arrest, including a backpack carrying the alleged execution weapon. 

His lawyers are besides asking the justice to destruct the aforesaid items from his national case. 

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Luigi Mangione speaks to a constabulary serviceman successful Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Manhattan District Attorney's Office)

On Friday, Mangione’s defence squad asked the tribunal to barroom the authorities from making his national proceedings a superior case. 

Mangione’s national lawsuit is expected to spell to proceedings successful December – oregon perchance January 2027 – if the decease punishment remains connected the table. If not, the justice said Friday that Mangione could basal proceedings arsenic aboriginal arsenic October.

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Luigi Mangione talks with a constabulary serviceman successful Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Manhattan District Attorney's Office)

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No proceedings day has been acceptable successful Mangione’s authorities execution case, which is expected to beryllium first. 

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Mangione is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson connected a New York City sidewalk successful 2024. He has pleaded not blameworthy successful some courts.