On December 30, 2022, the police charged Bryan Kohberger for the gruesome killings of four University of Idaho students. As of now, the court has not set a trial date. However, a recent report suggests that the trial might not begin until 2025.
As per Court TV, a hearing in the Kohberger murder case is going to take place on Wednesday. The outlet also revealed that the hearing will address several issues, including the trial date and a request for a change of venue of the trial, per Court TV. For the uninitiated, the prosecution and defense, have asked the court to start the trial in 2025.
On the other hand, both parties have requested to start the trial in the summer. They believe the trial would go smoothly during the time period because the nearby high school and the University of Idaho won’t be in session. Court TV also reported that the defense is asking for the trial to be taken to a different location to ensure fairness and impartiality. The defense lawyer said, “The size of the community and the interconnectedness of its citizenry is problematic and will prevent a fair and impartial pool of potential jurors.”
Bryan Kohberger murder case explored
On November 13, 2022, Bryan Kohberger allegedly killed four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho. The authorities discovered their bodies from their off-campus home in the area. As per the autopsy, the victims were identified as Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Morgen, and Ethan Chapin.
According to CBS News, the murderer used an “edged weapon such as a knife” to kill the victims. As the investigations moved ahead, the authorities announced their search for a person in a white Hyundai Elantra spotted near the crime scene.
The police collected all the substantial evidence and arrested Bryan Kohberger for the brutal slayings. Subsequently, the authorities charged him with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder. The New York Times reported that Kohberger refused to answer when the judge asked him if he pleaded guilty to the charges. As a result, the judge entered a “not guilty” plea on behalf of the accused.
The trial was initially supposed to start in October 2023, but Bryan Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial. Subsequently, the court postponed the trial.
Prosecutors to go for death penalty
However, the defense tried to ensure their client gets free before the trial date. They filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against the alleged killer. However, the judge denied their request and noted that despite a series of charges in the case, the issues raised by the defense team in the motion to dismiss the indictment are “not exceptional.”
This was the second time a similar appeal was denied in the case. As per the prosecutors, they will be going for the “death penalty” for Bryan Kohberger. The families of the victims expressed gratitude toward the prosecutors for going for the death penalty. According to Daily Mail, Bryan Kohberger is currently residing at the Latah County Jail.
The Idaho murders have garnered a lot of attention from the media and have been the subject of several documentaries. Paramount recently released a project named Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders that focuses on people of TikTok trying to find the Idaho college killer. The documentary is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.