The judge overseeing the state trial of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, has laid down the ground rules for court public and media access to the high-profile case.
Mangione returned to court on Tuesday ahead of his murder trial, which begins next month in New York.
The case has attracted national attention, and has also created an online frenzy, with both his backers – many of whom see Mangione as a symbol of the backlash against US healthcare costs – and his critics analysing everything from his intentions to his appearance.
The spectacle is likely to intensify when jury selection for the trial begins on 8 September.
Mangione, if found guilty, could face decades behind bars. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including second-degree murder and weapons-related offences.
He faces a separate federal trial next year, in which he has also pleaded not guilty.
Much of what is expected at the state trial – the prosecutor’s case, Mangione’s defence, and obstacles both parties face – were previewed in months of court filings and arguments, but some questions remain unanswered.
