The judge presiding over the University of Idaho quadruple murder case put off deciding when the high-profile trial will begin.
During Friday’s live streamed court hearing, Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys pushed back against the state’s request to have the trial start this summer. The defense claimed they would not be prepared by then, as they had only spoken with less than 10 percent of 400 possible witnesses.
The defense said they estimate they could be ready by summer 2025. They also believe the trial could last 12 to 15 weeks, according to FOX.
Earlier in the day, Judge John Judge dismissed Kohberger’s latest motion to have the grand jury indictment dismissed. Defense attorneys have argued that the grand jury used the wrong standard of proof because they were given incorrect instructions, and the grand jury was biased because prosecutors withheld evidence that would have supported Kohberger’s case.
Kohberger’s attorneys have claimed Kohberger was not at the crime scene and was driving around alone the night Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed at the women’s off-campus home on November 13, 2022.
However, police claim he visited the area 12 times before the slayings and that he turned off his phone on the night in question.
Investigators tested DNA from a trash can outside Kohberger’s family home in Pennsylvania against DNA found on the sheath at the crime scene. Testing determined that “at least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the suspect’s biological father.”
At the time of the slayings, Kohberger was obtaining his Ph.D. in criminology from Washington State University, which is located 10 miles from the crime scene.
Prosecutors filed court documents detailing their intent to pursue the death penalty as they deemed the slayings were “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Bryan Kohberger/August Frank/The Lewiston Tribune via AP, Pool]
