Defense Argues for Suppression of Evidence in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder Case
Lawyers for Dennis Mangione, accused in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are seeking to suppress key evidence in the case, arguing violations of his constitutional rights. They are challenging the admissibility of statements Mangione made to law enforcement and the evidence recovered from his backpack, which contained a gun and ammunition.
According to court filings in Manhattan federal court, Mangione, 27, was not informed of his miranda rights prior to questioning by officers who arrested him following Thompson’s death on December 4th. Thompson was fatally shot upon arrival at a manhattan hotel for his company’s annual investor conference. the defense also contends that officers conducted a warrantless search of Mangione’s backpack. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges.
The investigation following the shooting spanned multiple states. Mangione initially fled the scene on a bicycle, then took a taxi to a bus depot servicing several nearby states. He was ultimately apprehended five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a tip from a McDonald’s restaurant. He has remained in custody without bail since his arrest.
Defense lawyers have submitted a detailed account of Mangione’s arrest, including a photograph from a police body-worn camera showing him initially seated alone, wearing a mask covering most of his face. The filing describes how two “fully-armed” officers approached Mangione after being alerted by someone who found him “suspicious” while he was eating at the restaurant.
When asked for identification, Mangione presented a New Jersey driver’s license bearing a name other than his own.He was then asked to stand and submit to a frisk search. One officer reportedly expressed being “100 percent” convinced Mangione was the suspect, prompting a request for backup. Within minutes, nearly half a dozen additional officers arrived.
Previously, Mangione’s legal team requested the dismissal of federal charges and the removal of the death penalty as a possible sentence, citing public comments made by Attorney General Pam Bondi. in April, Bondi directed New York prosecutors to pursue the death penalty, characterizing Thompson’s killing as a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”
The federal charge, stemming from a law regarding murders committed with firearms in connection with other “crimes of violence,” is the only avenue for a potential death penalty, as New York state does not utilize capital punishment. The defense argues this charge should be dismissed, claiming prosecutors have failed to adequately identify the underlying offenses necessary for conviction, specifically arguing that the alleged offence of stalking does not qualify as a “crime of violence.”
The case has garnered significant national attention, sparking outrage and online criticism directed towards health insurers and raising security concerns among corporate leaders.Investigators discovered the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” written on ammunition at the crime scene – a phrase frequently used by critics of the insurance industry.
