NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Prosecutors in Luigi Mangione’s state trial are defending the search of his backpack and urging a judge to allow the evidence in his upcoming murder trial, despite the defense arguing the search was unconstitutional.
Prosecutors argued that Mangione’s bid to suppress evidence taken from his backpack and specific statements he made to police should be denied by the court because Pennsylvania authorities acted “reasonably” during the search, according to court documents obtained by Fox News.
The filing comes after a three-week hearing in 2025, in which Mangione’s defense team argued the alleged murder weapon, handwritten notes and additional items seized from the accused killer’s backpack were inadmissible because they violated his constitutional rights.
However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office is insisting the Altoona authorities “responded to this unexpected and alarming situation reasonably,” when they searched Mangione’s backpack and arrested him inside the rural McDonald’s, according to the court filing.
LUIGI MANGIONE BATTLES TO BLOCK KEY EVIDENCE A YEAR AFTER CEO ASSASSINATION — EXPERTS SAY IT’S A ‘LONG SHOT’
“Altoona officers obtained a search warrant for the backpack, thereby establishing an independent source for recovering the backpack’s contents,” assistant district attorney Joel Seidemann wrote.
LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST
The prosecution also pointed to the defense’s claim that Altoona officers did not comply with New York’s search-and-seizure law, insisting that the Pennsylvania authorities were “unfamiliar” with the guidelines of another state.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
“Nor could they be expected to familiarize themselves with that body of law in advance of the defendant’s arrival, which they had no way of anticipating,” Seidemann wrote.
SEND US A TIP HERE
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges stemming from the 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
He was arrested days later at an Altoona McDonald’s and extradited to New York City, where he remains in custody awaiting trial.
Judge Gregory Carro expects to issue a decision regarding the evidence by May 18, according to WABC.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Mangione’s state trial is set to begin on June 8.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Mangione’s defense team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Read the full article here