Bryan Kohberger’s defense has asked that he be allowed to ditch his prison gear and wear a suit and tie at his next court appearance.
The families of the four students who were brutally murdered have objected to the placement, with one mother saying it “sickens” her to see the man accused of murdering her daughter so smartly “dressed with a freshly cut haircut”.
The suspect in the 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students is set to appear in court later this week, after repeatedly wearing professional attire in pretrial court proceedings.
The last time he wore the prison uniform was during his appearance in May 2023.
In a motion filed Friday, Kohberger’s attorneys formally requested that he continue to be allowed to avoid wearing prison clothing in public.
Bryan Kohberger’s defense filed a motion last week demanding that he be allowed to wear a suit to his upcoming hearing in Boise.
The families of the four students he killed have objected to the assignment, with one mother saying it is “sickening” to see the man accused of killing her daughter in a suit. Pictured are victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
‘During the short time between (Kohberger’s) transportation to Ada County and the drafting of this motion, (Kohberger’s) defense team is aware of at least 900 media stories … that have focused on (Kohberger’s) recent arrest photo showing facial hair,’ one section reads.
‘As set forth in the record of the hearing on the change of venue, the testimony of the experts is that the public interest will not be diminished.
‘This testimony remains accurate given the extensive nature of media coverage over the past five days.
“Much of the media coverage and social media posts focus on (Kohberger’s) appearance,” the lawsuit continued.
‘Allowing (Kohberger’s) to wear street clothes to all public hearings is one way to reduce the potential for bias.’
The term “street clothes” refers to suits, rather than the traditional prison jumpsuits.
“This request is due to the public nature of the case and the wide dissemination of images of Mr. Kohberger,” Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s lead attorney, wrote at one point. “Therefore, avoiding appearing in the press in prison attire is something that can reduce prejudice.”
‘During the short time between (Kohberger’s) transportation to Ada County and the drafting of this motion, (Kohberger’s) defense team is aware of at least 900 media stories … that have focused on (Kohberger’s) recent arrest photo showing facial hair,’ one section reads.
Demands for pretrial proceedings are generally in the hands of the judge, a state courts spokesman confirmed.
The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, who was 21 when she was killed, has publicly opposed the exemption that in the past allowed their daughter’s alleged killer to wear a disguise.
“It makes me sick that he’s sitting there in his suit… and all dressed up with a freshly cut haircut,” Kristi Goncalves, his mother, told NewsNation in 2023.
The Ada County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the Ada County Jail where Kohberger is being held, does not provide clothing other than jail clothing for court appearances, a sheriff’s office spokesman said. The Seattle Times.
And although the case is now under a new judge in that county, the exceptions are likely to continue, the representative said.
Kohberger will appear at the status conference in Boise on Thursday, and the hearing will be streamed live on YouTube.
The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves has publicly opposed the exemption that has allowed their daughter’s alleged killer to dress up in costumes in the past. “It makes me sick that he’s sitting there in his suit…and all dressed up with a fresh haircut,” Kristi Goncalves (left), her mother, said in 2023.
Kohberger last wore a jail uniform at his arraignment in May 2023. His attorneys say a person’s appearance in court can influence how jurors determine guilt.
Prosecutors say the killer left the sheath of the military knife behind and that it was found next to the body of one of the victims on the third floor of the student house.
DNA allegedly found on the bag was later matched to Kohberger’s, they say, after the FBI compared the sample to genetic genealogy databases and “notified” local police.
Days later, Kohberger was handcuffed and has remained in jail ever since.
Following Kohberger’s arrest on December 30, it emerged that DNA samples were taken directly from the suspect and the results yielded a more concrete “statistical match.”
In response, the defense accused prosecutors of “hiding their entire case” by trying to keep their genetic genealogy method secret.
Meanwhile, Kohberger has waived his right to a speedy trial and no trial date has been set.
He is accused of killing not only Kaylee, but also her best friend Maddie Mogen, 21, her roommate Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, at their home off the University of Idaho campus on Nov. 13, 2022.
