OAN’s Abril Elfi
11:25 AM – Thursday, August 24, 2023
The trial for Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the University of Idaho killings, has been delayed.
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On Wednesday, the 24-year-old suspect waived his right to a speedy trial during a hearing.
During the hearing, Kohberger’s lawyer, Anne Taylor, informed the court that she did not feel his case would be ready by the October 2nd start date. The attorney also argued that the defense needs more time to analyze state evidence and complete other processes before going to trial.
Despite the fact that the prosecutor, Bill Thompson, allegedly claimed that the State would prefer to begin the trial as soon as possible, District Judge John C. Judge acknowledged Kohberger’s choice to relinquish his right and authorized the delay.
The upcoming hearing for Kohberger set for September 1st will still remain in place.
The new trial date has not been set but it is reportedly being discussed in the upcoming hearing.
Prosecutors are still pushing for the death penalty regarding the murders.
In the early hours of November 13th, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were fatally stabbed in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho.
According to the affidavit published in January, investigators zeroed in on Kohberger after discovering he was the registered owner of a white Hyundai Elantra similar to one seen on surveillance footage near the murder site on the night of the killings.
They also reportedly stated that his appearance is also consistent with a description supplied by a surviving roommate, who saw the killer and noticed traits such as height, weight, and bushy eyebrows.
The affidavit revealed that Kohberger’s phone records showed he had been around the victims’ home at least a dozen times since last June and had also been near the site of the killings hours later.
Additionally, court documents presented by prosecutors show that the suspect’s DNA was a “statistical match” to DNA obtained from the sheath of a knife found at the crime scene.
Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania in December and extradited to Idaho a few days later.
In May, he was formally charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one act of criminal burglary, after pleading not guilty to all charges during his arraignment.
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