Defense Seeks to Block Death Penalty, Toss Key Evidence in Mangione Case
Luigi Mangione's defense urged dismissal of a federal death-penalty-eligible firearm murder charge and suppression of backpack evidence, citing prejudicial publicity, alleged official misconduct and errors.
Overview
Luigi Mangione, 27, pleaded not guilty to federal murder, stalking and weapons charges after Brian Thompson was shot in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024; he faces possible death penalty.
Defense attorneys say pretrial publicity, Attorney General Pam Bondi's public statements and a choreographed perp walk prejudiced the case and politicized the death-penalty decision.
Federal prosecutors counter that the murder charge is legally sufficient, Bondi has no ongoing financial ties to Ballard Partners, and juror screening can address publicity concerns.
Defense seeks to exclude items from Mangione's backpack — a gun, 3D-printed weapon components and a notebook with alleged threats — arguing warrantless search violated rights.
Judge Margaret Garnett declined an immediate evidentiary hearing and did not set a trial date; she suggested jury selection could begin in September or in January depending on death-penalty eligibility.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present a largely neutral account: reporting descriptive courtroom detail, citing defense and prosecution claims, and including legal experts and the judge’s remarks. Loaded phrases (e.g., 'Marvel movie spectacle') are attributed to defense sources, not editorial voice, and coverage balances competing positions and procedural context.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Luigi Mangione is facing federal charges including murder through the use of a modified firearm, two counts of stalking, and a firearms offense, any of which could be used to support a federal death penalty sentence if the murder‑by‑firearm count stands.
The murder‑by‑firearm charge is the only count that makes Mangione eligible for the federal death penalty, so if the judge dismisses that charge, prosecutors would no longer be able to seek a death sentence in the federal case.
Defense lawyers argue that police searched Mangione’s backpack without a valid warrant, so the pistol, silencer, and notebook with alleged threats should be excluded, while prosecutors say the notebook was searched under a judicially authorized warrant that covered written materials in the backpack.
Mangione’s attorneys say authorities staged a highly choreographed “perp walk,” made public statements calling for his execution, and generated intense media coverage that together politicized the death‑penalty decision and tainted the possibility of a fair jury.
The judge has indicated that jury selection is likely to start in early September, but the exact timing of opening statements and evidence depends on her pending rulings on whether prosecutors can seek the death penalty and whether key counts in the indictment are dismissed.
History
3 sources