The pretrial hearing in the Luigi Mangione murder case is continuing Thursday. 

Mangione's defense team wants some key evidence kept out of the trial, arguing that it was uncovered without a search warrant. That evidence includes items recovered from Mangione's backpack, including a pistol, silencer and notebook. 

Prosecutors have been arguing the search was legal and in keeping with routine police procedure in the Altoona, Penn. Police Department. Prosecutors say the search took place after Mangione was placed under arrest at a McDonald's there for providing a false ID to officers. 

The judge will decide whether some of the evidence will, or will not, be allowed at trial. 

Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown last year, as Thompson was walking to an investor conference. Mangione also faces a federal charges, for which he may face the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty. 

More testimony about Mangione's arrest, search

As the hearing got underway Thursday, the defense argued that the recent release of police bodycam video of Mangione's arrest influences public perception. The judge said he didn't see a problem with its release, since jury selection is when potential jurors will be vetted. 

The hearing then continued with testimony of Lt. William Hanelly of the Altoona Police Department. He testified he responded to the McDonald's after one of his fellow officers called saying they believed they had found the suspect in Thompson's shooting. 

Hanelly testified that as he was driving to the scene, he called the 911 call center in New York to let the NYPD know that they may have located the suspect. When he arrived on the scene, he shared with the 911 operator the fake name - Mark Rosario - Mangione had given police officers, as well as the number on his fake license plate. 

Hanelly said he placed a call to the DA to discuss particular charges, and ultimately told officers to take Mangione into custody. Hanelly testified that police can search people and their items after they're arrested, and during hundreds of arrests he's not seen a warrant. 

After a preliminary search of the bag turned up a loaded magazine for a pistol, Hanelly told his fellow officer to re-pack the bag, saying he was concerned about cross-contamination, and that the incident was unfolding in the public eye. 

"It was gonna turn into a thing. It was going to be a mess. I just wanted to get it to the station," Hanelly said. 

Hanelly said he again contacted New York's 911 call center to let them know they believed they had the suspect in custody. 

Hanelly testified that Mangione's arrest and processing at the station was very routine. 

Evidence has already been made public, potentially impacting jurors

Some of the evidence in question has been released and can be widely viewed by the public, including potential jurors. That evidence includes a brief snippet of police bodycam video of his arrest, as well as footage of Thompson's killing. 

That has raised questions of how those photos and videos, ubiquitous in the news and on social media, might impact finding a fair and impartial jury. 

Some experts expressed their opinions, saying it may be of help to both prosecutors and the defense. 

"You're not going to be blindsided by what the other side has. You know what they have and you can potentially see how people react to it. So that's where you have a really unique opportunity in high-profile case," jury and trial consultant Dr. Jo-Ellan Dimitrius said.

"There are people who tune things out and will come in and say 'I have no idea who this guy is,'" law professor and civil and criminal attorney Donte Mills said.

So far, no trial date has been set.