Mangione trial set for September as judge probes arrest protocol amNewYork

"While cross-examining a Pennsylvania deputy police chief, Luigi Mangione's defense team on Friday sought to convince a federal judge that law enforcement improperly searched his backpack during his December 2024 arrest. Mangione, who is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, stole a few glances toward the courtroom half-filled with devout supporters of the raven-haired, 27-year-old defendant, but otherwise was fixed forward and appeared to be taking notes during the hour-and-a-half-long hearing."

"At the start of the proceeding, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett of the Southern District of New York confirmed that Mangione's federal trial will begin this year, setting a Sept. 8 jury selection date. The judge hasn't yet ruled on a defense motion to dismiss the two counts for which the federal government has said it will seek the death penalty. If the charges stand, a capital trial would begin next January; if they're quashed, trial will start in October."

"Central to Friday's hearing was whether police followed department protocol while detaining Mangione at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after the Manhattan shooting. Prosecutors called Altoona Police Department Deputy Chief Nathan Snyder, who was not involved in Mangione's arrest and testified he hadn't looked at body camera footage, either. Snyder reviewed several sections of Altoona police's procedures for arrests, which include taking an inventory of everything a detainee has on them when they're brought into custody."

Luigi Mangione is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett set jury selection for Sept. 8 and has not ruled on a defense motion to dismiss two counts that the federal government says could merit the death penalty. If those counts remain, a capital trial would begin next January; if quashed, trial will start in October. Central issues include whether Altoona officers followed department protocol when detaining Mangione at a McDonald's five days after the shooting, including inventory procedures and whether his backpack and journal were searched and read. Altoona Deputy Chief Nathan Snyder testified he was not involved in the arrest and had not reviewed body camera footage but reviewed departmental arrest procedures.

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