**Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Receives Trial Date for College Students’ Killings**
Idaho prosecutors have requested that the trial of Bryan Kohberger, the suspect accused of murdering four college students, begin next summer. This request aims to avoid conflicts with local high school and college schedules. In a recent court filing, the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked the judge to schedule a jury trial for approximately six weeks, including the sentencing phase, during the summer of 2024. The document, filed in Idaho district court, emphasized the need for trial dates outside the regular academic calendar. It noted that Moscow High School is adjacent to the courthouse, and the increased media presence has already strained parking and pedestrian safety, including for students.
Prosecutors also suggested that a summer trial would likely mean more availability of local accommodations. They pointed out that area lodging often becomes unavailable due to university-related activities such as sporting events and graduations when universities are in session. They proposed a daily trial schedule from 8:30 a.m. to around 3 p.m. to allow jurors time to manage their personal affairs during what is expected to be a lengthy commitment.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, was initially scheduled to stand trial in October. However, he waived his right to a speedy trial in August, indefinitely delaying the proceedings. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in connection with the brutal stabbings of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus rental home in Moscow last November.
At the time of the killings, Kohberger was a graduate student at Washington State University, located about 15 minutes from Moscow by car. He was arrested last December at his family’s home in Pennsylvania after completing his first semester as a Ph.D. candidate in criminology. Kohberger has denied any involvement in the murders, and a judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf earlier this year. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has stated his intention to seek the death penalty.
In Thursday’s filing, attorneys requested a hearing to establish deadlines for both the prosecution and Kohberger’s defense team to file any outstanding documents necessary to meet the proposed trial start date. This would include completing discovery, witness lists, jury instructions, and addressing any pre-trial motions, including those related to the death penalty. The prosecution also requested that Kohberger’s defense be denied any additional opportunities to file an alibi notice, stating that two deadlines had already passed for the defense to do so.
Public defenders representing Kohberger objected in August to the state’s initial motion to compel him to provide an alibi for the night of the murders. In their filing, his attorneys stated that Kohberger took a drive by himself that night and “has long had a habit of going for drives alone,” often at night. Investigators believe the students were killed between 4 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. on November 13, 2022, according to the probable cause affidavit for Kohberger’s arrest.
In October, the judge rejected a motion filed by Kohberger’s defense team to dismiss the grand jury indictment against him. The defense argued for its dismissal due to an “error in jury instructions” and claimed that the burden of proof presented to the jury as “probable cause” rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt” was not the standard in Idaho. The judge maintained that probable cause was the standard of proof for a grand jury to indict.
The trial had been set to start on October 2. However, Kohberger’s defense attorney, Anne Taylor, stated that more time was needed to effectively present their case. The decision to delay the trial had been anticipated for weeks, especially after prosecutors announced their intention to seek the death penalty against Kohberger.
In court, Judge John Judge confirmed with Kohberger that no one had pressured him into waiving his right to a speedy trial, and Kohberger affirmed that this was his decision. Idaho law requires that defendants receive a trial date within six months of their arraignment if they do not waive that right.
Prosecutors allege that in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, broke into an off-campus home and stabbed to death four University of Idaho students: Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. After a six-week investigation, police identified Kohberger as a suspect, tracking his white Hyundai Elantra and cell phone signal data. Authorities also recovered what they said was his DNA on a knife sheath found next to one of the victims’ bodies.
Kohberger was indicted in May and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. At his arraignment, he declined to offer a plea, so the judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.
The Goncalves family responded to the developments, stating, “Upon the Court finally putting hard deadlines in place, the Family suspected that the Defendant would waive his speedy trial rights. This case carries enormous weight for the families and the community, and this additional time allows both sides to be fully prepared for the next trial date.”
This case has seen numerous legal maneuvers, including a recent courtroom drama where Kohberger’s defense attorney, Anne C. Taylor, was accused of commissioning phone surveys to potential jurors that could hinder Kohberger’s ability to get a fair trial. Taylor argued that the survey was crucial for seeking a change of venue due to extensive local media coverage. The judge, however, expressed concerns that the survey questions could prejudice potential jurors.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community and the families of the victims await the trial, hoping for justice and closure.
Source: CBS News, CNN
