Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old American accused of murdering a health insurance executive, made a court appearance as his legal team aims to exclude his diary entries and other crucial evidence from his murder trial.

Entering a New York courtroom through a side entrance, Mangione, in a dark gray suit jacket, had his hands shackled. A court officer removed the restraints once he reached the defense table.

Mangione was detained at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after a nationwide manhunt. This followed the December 4, 2024, fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of United Healthcare, on a bustling Manhattan sidewalk.

Key pieces of evidence seized

During his arrest last December, authorities confiscated several items from Mangione’s backpack, including a handgun, a loaded magazine, and a notebook filled with handwritten notes—evidence that prosecutors argue ties him to the crime.

Prosecutors have pointed out that the seized firearm matches ballistic evidence collected from the Manhattan shooting scene.

The writings in the notebook have been described by authorities as a “manifesto,” highlighting Mangione’s grievances with the healthcare industry and his alleged intention to carry out the attack. Prosecutors assert that these entries “demonstrate his responsibility for this brutal act.”

In a court filing, Friedman-Agnifilo argued the writings and all the items recovered from the backpack should not be admissible since police illegally searched the bag without a warrant, and there was no immediate threat to justify a warrantless search.

Prosecutors can overcome the challenge if they can prove the evidence would have inevitably been discovered legally during the course of the investigation.

Even if the judge rules in favour of Mangione, prosecutors still have evidence of his DNA or fingerprints on several items discarded by the shooter near the crime scene, according to court documents.