Idaho judge rejects Bryan Kohbergers request to delay murder trial, present theories of alternate perpetrators
An Idaho judge says he won’t postpone the quadruple murder trial of a man accused in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler made the ruling Thursday, telling Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys that jury selection will begin in August and opening arguments will likely be held around Aug.18.Hippler also rejected the defense team’s request to present theories of four “alternate perpetrators” to the jury, writing that evidence presented by the defense is “entirely irrelevant.”“Nothing links these individuals to the homicides or otherwise gives rise to a reasonable inference that they committed the crime; indeed, it would take nothing short of rank speculation by the jury to make such a finding,” Hippler wrote in the order.Kohberger, 30, a former graduate student in criminal justice at Washington State University, is charged with four counts of murder.
Prosecutors say he sneaked into a rental home in nearby Moscow, Idaho, not far from the University of Idaho campus, and fatally stabbed Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves on Nov.13, 2022.Kohberger stood silent at his arraignment, prompting a judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.Defense attorney Anne Taylor had asked the judge to delay the proceedings.She said beginning the trial this summer would violate Kohberger’s right to a fair trial in part because his defense team was still reviewing evidence and struggling to get potential witnesses to agree to be interviewed.
She also said extensive publicity could taint the proceedings and that a cooling off period would help ensure an impartial jury.But Hippler noted that interest in the case has only grown and that previous delays have only given the media more time to “provide coverage to a public audience which is clamoring for answers.”“The longer the public is made to sit and wait for the facts to come out at trial...