Luigi Mangione set to appear on TV from court for the first time as trial weighs crucial backpack evidence

Published: 17:25, 17 May 2026 | Updated: 17:29, 17 May 2026 Luigi Mangione fanatics will be able to see him in court on TV for the first time on Monday during a crucial hearing in his case. Viewers will be able to see how the alleged murderer reacts when a judge decides what evidence will be allowed into his state case in New York. The hearing will be taped but can be shown in its entirety afterwards, a court spokesman confirmed to the Daily Mail. Judge Gregory Caro will rule on whether prosecutors can show the jury the contents of Mangione’s backpack when he was arrested in December 2024 for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan. That includes Mangione's journal in which he allegedly said he wanted to 'whack' Thompson and that the killing would be 'justified'. Mangione, who has won a legion of twisted fans who regard him as a folk hero, will be ready for his closeup - after a judge ruled he should be allowed to wear a suit. The unusual move was approved by the New York state courts where cameras are normally forbidden and comes ahead of Mangione’s September trial. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate was charged with murder in the second degree and weapons charges along with possession of a forged instrument, all of which he denies. Luigi Mangione's trial is set to be filmed and available to view on court TV for the first time as heads to court in New York on Monday where a judge will decide on admissibility of certain evidence Mangione, who has won a legion of twisted fans who regard him as a folk hero, will be ready for his closeup after a judge ruled he should be allowed to wear a suit UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on his way to a conference in Manhattan in 2024 Judge Caro held a nine-day hearing late last year to determine what evidence could be allowed after Mangione’s lawyers claimed his constitutional rights against illegal search and seizure were violated. They claimed that police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, did not have a warrant to search Mangione when he was arrested in a McDonald’s in the town five days after the shooting. Among the contents of the bag was a red notebook which prosecutors called a ‘manifesto’ - Mangione’s lawyers called it a ‘journal’. Writing in October 2024, Mangione said he wanted to ‘wack’ the chief executive of an insurance at its annual ‘bean counter conference’. Six weeks later Thompson, 59, a father-of-two, was shot outside the Hilton Midtown during a UnitedHealthcare investor conference. Another October entry allegedly read that the investor conference was 'a true windfall'. The journal stated: 'It embodies everything wrong with our health system'. In another entry from August 2024, Mangione allegedly wrote: 'I finally feel confident about what I will do. The details are coming together. 'And I don’t feel any doubt about whether it’s right/justified. I’m glad-in a way-that I’ve procrastinated bc it allowed me to learn more about (UnitedHealthcare). 'The target is insurance. It checks every box'. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate was charged with murder in the second degree and weapons charges along with possession of a forged instrument, all of which he denies, over the death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson Judge Gregory Caro will rule on whether prosecutors can show the jury the contents of Mangione’s backpack when he was arrested in December 2024. A backpack recovered by police in Central Park during the investigation Mangione recently also caught a break in the separate federal case, which is taking place in New York in a courtroom a few blocks from the state court, seen above US District Judge Margaret M. Garnett dismissed four of the federal counts including murder through the use of a firearm and a related firearms offense Other items in the backpack included 9 mm handgun, a loaded gun magazine wrapped in a pair of underwear and silencer. Police who arrested Mangione said that the bullets in the magazine convinced them he was the killer. According to prosecutors, the bullets used to kill Thompson had the words ‘delay’, ‘deny’ and ‘depose’ written on them in reference to the language used to deny health insurance claims. Jury selection is set to begin on September 8th for the state trial which is likely to be attended every day by Mangione’s fans. They have cheered and clapped loudly each time he has appeared in court for pretrial hearings. Mangione recently also caught a break in the separate federal case, which is taking place in New York in a courtroom a few blocks from the state court. US District Judge Margaret M. Garnett dismissed four of the federal counts including murder through the use of a firearm and a related firearms offense. Critically, the dismissal of the murder charge meant Mangione is no longer eligible for the death penalty. Jury selection is set to begin on September 8th for the state trial which is likely to be attended every day by Mangione’s fans. They have cheered and clapped loudly each time he has appeared in court for pretrial hearings Ahead of his hearing on Monday, Judge Garnett ordered the Bureau of Prisons to make sure Mangione could wear civilian clothes. She said that he has to be given a suit, one shirt, a pair of socks and a pair of shoes, but no laces Mangione still faces two counts of interstate stalking, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. The federal case is due to go on trial next year once the state matter is concluded. Mangione is currently being held at the grim Metropolitan Detention Centre, a federal prison in Brooklyn whose previous inmates included R. Kelly and Diddy. Ahead of his hearing on Monday, Judge Garnett ordered the Bureau of Prisons to make sure Mangione could wear civilian clothes. She said that he has to be given a suit, one shirt, a pair of socks and a pair of shoes, but no laces. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. 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