On Monday, a judge issued a 37-day stay in the trial of Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of murdering four University of Idaho students last year.
Kohberger requested an indefinite stay in his case as he claimed there were fundamental failures in the grand jury selection process. The grand jury indicted Kohberger in May, and Latah County judge John Judge found Kohberger’s latest request was “premature” as Kohberger has not had the chance to review grand jury transcripts, according to KREM.
However, the judge did issue a 37-day stay as those transcripts are expected to be finished on July 21. The judge acknowledged Kohberger’s right to a speedy trial in his decision.
KREM reported that Kohberger’s trial is set to begin on October 2, but it could be delayed if his legal team needs all 37 days to review the transcript.
On Monday, the judge also dismissed Kohberger’s motion, filed in June, to delay proceedings as his lawyers review the grand jury transcript. That motion was dismissed without prejudice, meaning he could refile it at a later date. Kohberger can request another stay upon receiving those documents, KTVB reported.
Presumably, another stay could push back the trial date even further. Right now, there are no plans to reschedule Kohberger’s trial.
Kohberger, a Ph.D. criminal justice student at Washington State University, was arrested in December in Pennsylvania for murdering Maggie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle at the women’s off-campus home.
He is believed to have turned off his phone during the November 13 murders. However, police claim he visited the area 12 times before the slayings.
Kohberger was arrested after a cross-country trip with his father from Idaho to Pennsylvania. During their trip, Indiana police pulled over the pair twice. Sources claimed the FBI requested the traffic stops to view possible injuries on Kohberger’s hands.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. On Monday, prosecutors filed court documents detailing their intent to pursue the death penalty. They wrote in their filing that the four slayings were “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity” and “exhibited [an] utter disregard for human life.”
Kohberger remains jailed without bail. He is due back in court on August 18.
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[Featured image: Monroe County PD/Bryan Kohberger]
