ON TRIAL FOR MURDER, YET MANY AMERICANS SEE HIM AS A HERO: Decisive Hearing for Luigi Mangione Begins in New York! (VIDEO)

Key pretrial hearings began today ahead of the trial of Luigi Mangione, the man who killed United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing “United Healthcare” executive Brian Thompson in front of a Manhattan hotel, appeared in court today, marking the start of a series of crucial hearings.

These hearings will determine the admissibility of key evidence in the upcoming murder trial, Reuters reports.

Arrested last year on suspicion of killing a powerful executive

To recall, 27-year-old Mangione was arrested in December last year on charges that he killed Thompson in broad daylight on a Manhattan sidewalk.

The murder that shocked the public was condemned by numerous officials, but Mangione has become something of a folk hero for some Americans dissatisfied with high healthcare costs.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the trial is expected to begin next year. He also pleaded not guilty in a separate federal case in which prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.

During today’s hearing, Mangione, dressed in a gray suit and a white shirt with a red checkered pattern, did not utter a single word as court officers removed his handcuffs.

A small group of his supporters gathered outside the courthouse. Among them was a man dressed as a villain from the video game Super Mario Bros., holding a sign that read: “When patients die, profits rise.” Also present was a woman wearing a sash that said “Free Luigi.”

Defense seeks exclusion of key evidence

The hearings before Judge Gregory Carro could last all week, and the defense will attempt to prevent prosecutors from using evidence found in Mangione’s backpack during his arrest.

They claim the search was unlawful. Among the evidence are a 3D-printed gun, a suppressor, electronic devices, and diary entries that allegedly link him to the murder.

Defense attorneys are also seeking to exclude statements he made to police, arguing that he was not properly informed of his legal rights at the time of his arrest.

On the other hand, prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office oppose these motions, rejecting claims of unlawful procedure.

They called a security-camera technician as a witness, and the court displayed footage allegedly showing Mangione in a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested.

Faces life imprisonment

If convicted of second-degree murder, defined as intentional killing, Mangione faces a life sentence.

He is also charged with seven counts of illegal weapons possession and one count of possessing falsified documents.

Judge Carro dismissed two terrorism charges in September, explaining that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence of Mangione’s intent to intimidate healthcare employees or influence government policy.

Trial dates have not yet been set in either the state or federal case. Mangione has been held in federal custody in Brooklyn since his arrest.