The long-anticipated trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students, is now scheduled to begin in June 2025. This decision marks a significant step forward in a high-profile case that has captured national attention. Latah County District Judge John Judge laid out the plan during a hearing on Thursday, setting a tentative timeline that brings both the defendant and the victims' families closer to their day in court.
The trial date was set following an agreement between the prosecution and the defense, with both sides deeming the proposed schedule "reasonable." Judge Judge allocated approximately three months for the trial, including two weeks for jury selection, eight weeks for the trial itself, and two weeks for potential post-conviction hearings and sentencing. "I just don't want to be scrambling a month before the trial," Judge stated, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation.
Bryan Kohberger, a 29-year-old criminology graduate student, faces four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. Prosecutors allege that on November 13, 2022, Kohberger broke into an off-campus apartment near the University of Idaho in Moscow and fatally stabbed roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, and Xana Kernodle, along with Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. The murder weapon, a large fixed-blade knife, was not recovered from the crime scene.
Kohberger, who was arrested on December 30, 2022, in his home state of Pennsylvania, has pleaded not guilty. His defense team has indicated that Kohberger plans to present an alibi, arguing that he was driving around late at night during the time of the murders, a routine activity for him. They claim that cellphone tower data will support this defense, showing that he was miles away from the crime scene.
Bryan Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in the stabbing deaths of the students in late 2022. https://t.co/OKg4AUDkhP pic.twitter.com/mFZzktdklg — NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) June 27, 2024
The prosecution plans to rely heavily on DNA evidence, cellphone records, and surveillance footage to connect Kohberger to the murders. According to an affidavit, male DNA found on a knife sheath left at the scene matches Kohberger's genetic profile. Additionally, security footage captured a white Hyundai Elantra, the same model Kohberger drove, near the crime scene on the night of the murders.
Despite the progress made in setting a trial date, several pre-trial motions and hearings have delayed the proceedings. Kohberger's defense team previously sought to dismiss the grand jury indictment, citing issues of juror bias and prosecutorial misconduct, but these motions were denied. The defense has also requested to move the trial out of Latah County due to extensive media coverage, a decision Judge Judge is expected to make in August.
The case has been further complicated by a gag order issued last year, preventing lawyers, police, and other officials from making public statements. However, court filings and motion hearings have provided glimpses into Kohberger's defense strategy and the evidence against him.
Judge Judge has emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady pace in the legal proceedings, scheduling regular monthly hearings to address outstanding issues. "In my opinion, we're getting to a point of diminishing returns," he remarked, highlighting the need to resolve motions and avoid last-minute scrambles.
The victims' families have expressed frustration over the slow pace of the pre-trial process. In a statement released in May, the Goncalves family called for more decisive action, stating, "This case is turning into a hamster wheel of motions, hearings, and delayed decisions. Can we all just agree that this case needs to move forward?"
