Bryan Kohberger in court on May 22, 2023.Photo:Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty
Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty
University of Idaho murder suspectBryan Kohbergerappeared in court today for two hearings — and Judge John Judge announced he is taking time to decide on anew trial date.
Kohberger, 29, has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of felony burglary in connection with the Nov. 13, 2022, stabbing deaths ofMadison Mogen, 21,Kaylee Goncalves, 21,Xana Kernodle, 20, andEthan Chapin, 20.Kohberger has pleaded not guilty.
The first hearing was at 11 a.m. PT and the second is was at 1 p.m. PT. According toNewsweek, the first hearing was to address the defense’s motion to dismiss the indictment on claims of a biased jury, insufficient evidence and other claims. It was not open to the public.
During the second hearing, which was live-streamed, Judge John Judge denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the indictment and denied the appeal to take the issue to the Idaho Supreme Court.
While trying to set a tentative trial date, Judge Judge stated he needed time to contemplate. He then acknowledged the family of the victims and said he was sorry. The prosecution requested a summer of 2024 trial and the defense asked for a March or summer of 2025 trial.
From left, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle.Courtesy of Chapin Family; Maddie Mogen/Instagram; Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram; Xana Kernodle/Instagram
Courtesy of Chapin Family; Maddie Mogen/Instagram; Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram; Xana Kernodle/Instagram
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Two additional roommatesin the home were unharmed. According to the affidavit, one of the roommates who lived on the second floor where Kernodle and Chapin were killedsaw the suspected killer.
She described the person as “5'10” or taller, male, not very muscular, but athletically built with bushy eyebrows," according to the affidavit. The person walked past her and left the crime scene as “she stood in a ‘frozen shock phase,'” the affidavit states.
At the time of the slayings, Kohberger was a Ph.D student at Washington State University studyingcriminal justice and criminology. The university, which is in Pullman, Wash., is approximately eight miles away from the residence in Moscow, Idaho where the four students were killed.
That three-story house, which was located at1122 King Road, was demolished on Dec. 28.
On Friday morning, Steve and Kristi Goncalves, the parents of Kaylee, spoke toGood Morning America, and revealed details on how she was discovered.
Kristi stated that her daughter was “completely, totally trapped” in the bedroom she and her best friendMogenwere found in.
Kristi toldGMAthat when Kaylee was discovered, she was up against the wall “in an upright sort of position, up in the corner, slumped.” Adding that the bed where Goncalves and Mogen’s bodies were found was “the entire room — [you] could barely open up the door without swiping the foot of the bed.”
Kristi and Steve also stated that they hope a trial date for Kohberger is set soon. “We got to get this case over,” Steve said onGMA. “Let’s do it. Let’s stop playing these delay tactics, let’s just get it done.”
source: people.com
