A trial date has been set for Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025, and is expected to last until August 29, 2025, excluding holidays such as Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. This decision comes after months of legal wrangling and delays, leaving the victims’ families in a state of limbo.
The victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were found stabbed to death in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University at the time, was arrested weeks later and has since pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The parents of Kaylee Goncalves have been particularly vocal about their desire for the trial to proceed without further delays. “We got to get this case over,” said Steve Goncalves in an interview with ABC News. “Let’s do it. Let’s stop playing these delay tactics, let’s just get it done.” The family expressed relief that a trial date has finally been set, stating, “We are hopeful the trial stays in Latah County so as not to disrupt the scheduling order and we are praying for no more delays.”
The defense has requested a change of venue, arguing that the extensive media coverage has made it impossible to find an impartial jury in Latah County. However, Judge John Judge has indicated that the trial date should remain unchanged even if the venue is moved. The next hearing to discuss the change of venue is scheduled for August 29.
The prosecution and defense have been at odds over the trial date for months. Initially, the prosecution proposed a summer 2024 trial, citing the need to accommodate out-of-state witnesses. However, the defense argued that a summer 2024 trial was unrealistic due to the complexity of the case and the large amount of digital evidence that still needs to be reviewed. The defense recommended a summer 2025 trial, which has now been set.
The case has garnered national and international attention, adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings. The prosecution has argued that changing the venue would not solve the problem of finding an impartial jury, given the widespread media coverage. At a hearing on February 28, the judge and prosecution proposed a trial date of March 3, 2025, while the defense asked for a June 2025 trial. The judge ultimately sided with the defense.
The victims’ families have expressed frustration over the delays and the lack of information about the evidence. “We just want to know about the evidence,” said Steve Goncalves. “There’s just a lot of unknowns. How long do you have to wait before you can find out about your own child’s life and what happened, who did this, and how do you hold them accountable?”
The defense has accused the prosecution of withholding key evidence, including parts of a video that allegedly shows a vehicle matching Kohberger’s car at the scene of the murders. The prosecution has denied these allegations, stating that they are not consciously withholding information to frustrate the defense.
In April, the judge ruled that the defense could continue surveying potential jurors in Latah County as part of their effort to change the venue. The defense has argued that an impartial jury cannot be found in Latah County due to its small size and the enormous publicity the case has received. The prosecution has objected to the survey, arguing that some of the questions violate the judge’s gag order in the case.
Kohberger’s defense team has also submitted an alibi, stating that he was “out driving alone” on the night of the murders. According to court documents, Kohberger has a habit of going for drives alone, often at night. The defense plans to offer expert testimony to cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence, including cell phone data placing Kohberger near the scene of the crime.
The trial is now scheduled to start on June 2, 2025, after Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial in August 2023. Pretrial hearings have been postponed multiple times, further delaying the proceedings. The state of Idaho has also asked the court to prohibit cameras in the courtroom ahead of the trial, a request that was opposed by a coalition of journalists and ultimately declined by the judge.
One of the key pieces of evidence in the case is a tan leather knife sheath found at the crime scene, which contained a single source of male DNA. Investigators linked this DNA to Kohberger through a sample obtained from his parents’ home. Cell phone records and surveillance footage also place Kohberger near the scene of the crime on the night of the murders.
The two surviving roommates of the victims have provided crucial details to investigators. One of the roommates, identified in court documents as D.M., said she came almost face-to-face with the suspect on the night of the murders. She initially thought she heard one of her roommates playing with her dog but later heard someone say, “there’s someone here.”
As the trial date approaches, both the prosecution and defense are working to meet several upcoming deadlines. Judge John Judge has emphasized the importance of avoiding last-minute scrambling, stating, “I just don’t want to be scrambling a month before the trial.”
The families of the victims are hopeful that the trial will bring them closer to justice. “We moved a little closer to justice today for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana, and Ethan,” said the Goncalves family in a statement. They continue to pray for no more delays and for the trial to stay in Latah County.
Source: ABC News, NBC News
