Luigi Mangione smiles for cameras in court as defense claims police violated his rights

Luigi Mangione appeared in court Tuesday as his defense argued that Pennsylvania police violated his constitutional rights during and after his arrest at an Altoona McDonald’s following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The defense seeks to suppress evidence from Mangione’s backpack and statements he made to officers and jail guards, citing Fourth and Fifth Amendment concerns.

Officer George Featherstone testified that searching a suspect and their belongings after arrest is routine and legal, and that Mangione’s only non-Mirandized statement was giving a fake name.

The defense questioned evidence handling, noting multiple bags were transferred to the NYPD without timestamps, Fox News has reported.

Mangione faces up to life in prison for second-degree murder in New York, federal charges with potential death penalty exposure, and additional charges in Pennsylvania.