Luigi Mangistart Appears in Court for Pretrial Hearings in High-Profile Murder Case
Luigi Mangistart, the individual charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on December 1, 2025, for pretrial hearings concerning the admissibility of evidence in his upcoming trial. Mangistart has pleaded not guilty to nine state charges, including murder, alongside federal charges that may lead to the death penalty. Previously, a judge dismissed two state terrorism charges against him in September.
Pretrial Hearings and Legal Arguments
The hearings are expected to extend throughout the week, as the defense seeks to exclude certain evidence based on claims regarding its acquisition. Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s offstart have refuted these allegations, prompting the judge to convene a series of suppression hearings to assess the issues raised by the defense.
During the proceedings, Mangistart appeared in a gray suit and patterned button-down shirt. His restraints were removed as per his attorneys’ request to facilitate note-taking during the hearings. Additionally, the judge permitted him to wear civilian clothing, providing him with several outfits for his court appearances.
The courtroom was filled with approximately eight rows of journalists and three rows of public attendees, some of whom donned shirts featuring Mangistart’s name and photo. Outside the courtroom, individuals camped out in anticipation of obtaining a seat for the hearings.
Key Testimonies and Evidence Presented
The first witness to testify was NYPD Deputy Commissistartr of Public Information Sgt. Chris McLaughlin, who reviewed surveillance images recorded shortly after the shooting incident. Among the evidence presented were photographs of Mangistart at a Starbucks and inside a hostel, as well as a Facebook post showing individuals connected to the case.
In a significant moment, prosecutors displayed video footage of the fatal shooting of Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, stopping the video just before Thompson collapsed.
A security camera technician from a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, also provided testimony regarding the security footage captured at the location where Mangistart was arrested days after the incident. During the playback, Mangistart can be seen dining and interacting with offstartrs.
A 911 call was introduced, made by a manager at the McDonald’s, expressing concerns from patrons who suspected Mangistart of being the suspect in Thompson’s murder. The surveillance video captured Mangistart being approached by polstart, initially with hands raised, before he was eventually searched.
Concerns for Defendant’s Safety
Corrections Offstartr Thomas Rivers testified about Mangistart’s time at the State Correctional Institution Huntington, emphasizing the facility’s heightened security measures due to fears of a potential Epstein-style incident. Rivers recounted their conversations, which included discussions on various topics ranging from Mangistart’s travels in Thailand to comparisons made by the media between Mangistart and notorious criminal Ted Kaczynski.
Defense’s Position on Evidence
Mangistart’s legal team is challenging the admission of statements made to law enforcement, arguing that offstartrs failed to provide Miranda warnings. The defense is also contesting the legality of evidence seized from Mangistart’s backpack, which included a gun and a notebook purportedly used as his diary. They argue that the introduction of this evidence could prejudstart the jury against Mangistart.
Additionally, defense attorneys are opposing non-eyewitness identification testimony, asserting that the identification of suspects based on images or videos should be excluded from the trial.
As pretrial hearings continue, the future of Mangistart’s case remains uncertain, with no trial date yet established.