By Kara Scannell, Nicki Brown, Lauren del Valle

New York (CNN) — Luigi Mangione’s state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is set to begin with jury selection on September 8, the judge overseeing his case confirmed Tuesday at what is expected to be the final pretrial hearing.

Judge Gregory Carro had previously scheduled the start of the trial – which is expected to last six to eight weeks – for that date, but said Tuesday the case would proceed, even if there are outstanding motions left to be addressed.

Mangione, 28, is charged in New York state court with second-degree murder, possession of a forged instrument, and six weapons charges related to the fatal shooting of Thompson in December 2024.

Mangione is also slated to stand trial on federal stalking charges in January 2027. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Carro asked the parties to confer with each other on the questionnaire for prospective jurors. The jury will be anonymous, he said. The precaution is not uncommon in high-profile trials in the jurisdiction.

Mangione entered the courtroom Tuesday wearing a gray suit with his wrists shackled in front of him. He glanced at the gallery before he took a seat at the defense table. About two dozen members of the public – some of whom wore shirts indicating support for Mangione – sat in the back of the courtroom.

Public interest in the trial is expected to be widespread, as it will mark the climax of a case that began with Thompson’s killing on a sidewalk outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel that was hosting his company’s annual investor’s conference.

In the aftermath of his arrest, many people angry and frustrated with the American healthcare system have expressed support for the suspect and his alleged motive: prosecutors say a notebook found with him at the time of his arrest included writings with plans to attack the CEO at the “annual parasitic bean-counter convention.”

More than 84 media outlets have expressed interest in covering the trial, the judge said, and the court will provide an overflow room where journalists and members of the public can view the proceedings.

In letters submitted ahead of the hearing, Mangione’s attorneys questioned whether the court and prosecutors were restricting trial access to the press and the public. During Tuesday’s hearing, Carro admonished the defense claims, calling them “reckless mischaracterizations” and “without merit.”

Accommodations for the media will mean less room for members of the public in the actual courtroom, Carro noted, but they’ll still have access to the proceedings.

This story has been updated with additional information.

The-CNN-Wire
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