Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger had his trial in October delayed indefinitely after waiving his right to a speedy trial.
Kohberger, 28, was in a Moscow court on Wednesday to discuss a variety of issues. He was due to stand trial in the coming months for the grizzly bear murder of four students.
No date has been set for the future trial, which could now be months or even years away.
He faces four first-degree murder charges for the November 13 murders of Maddie Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus home. near the University of Idaho.
This comes a week after his last court appearance last Friday, when Judge John Judge set a September 15 deadline for Kohberger to make the decision.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, was in court in Moscow for a status conference at which his lawyers and prosecutors agreed to keep the trial date to October 2.
The former criminology student chose to “remain silent” during his arraignment and pleas of not guilty were entered in his name.
(L to R) Roommates Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke
During the all-day hearing, relatives of murdered University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves were seen taunting Kohberger in a pro-death penalty t-shirt.
The hearing saw the defense team for the alleged quadruple killer justify the alibi presented this month – that he was driving alone the night of the murders – and challenge the techniques authorities used to collect DNA evidence.
During a break in proceedings, one of Goncalves’ family members was seen wearing a t-shirt promoting the death penalty by firing squad, according to investigative journalist Kevin Fixler.
In June, prosecutors indicated they would pursue the death penalty against Kohberger, and the country’s difficulty obtaining deadly injection drugs could mean he will be executed by firing squad.
Fixler added that Kohberger seemed “relaxed” during the proceedings and even smiled as witnesses joked about scientific terms in court.
Goncalves’ family shared an emotional message on a Facebook page hours before the hearing, expressing concern that Kohberger’s trial could be delayed.
“Please pray for our family today,” they wrote. “We want to end this trial. Just thinking that it could take years kills me completely.
“We are concerned that he is waiving his right to a speedy trial,” the message read. “If he does, the trial will not start on October 2 and it is very likely that it will not take place for years.”
Although the hearing is closed to the media and the public, families of the victims were allowed to attend via Zoom.
The defense has so far focused on examining the process by which detectives identified Kohberger as a suspect.
Detectives relied on genetic genealogy to build their case against him, using genetic genealogy to build a DNA profile from DNA left on a knife holster at the scene.
The FBI tracked down Kohberger by tracing his estranged parents through genetic genealogy databases — then secretly collected a sample of his father’s DNA to confirm his identity.
Police say DNA found on a knife holster left at the Idaho murder scene is a “statistical match” to a cheek swab taken from the suspect after his arrest.
A DNA sample left on the sheath is “at least 5.37 octillion times more likely to be seen if (the) defendant is the source than if an unrelated person randomly selected from the general population is the source,” prosecutors said in the filing.
At a previous hearing, prosecutors insisted that Kohberger provide witnesses who could support an alibi. However, his defense said that “at this time, there are no specific witnesses to say precisely where Kohberger was” on the night of the murders.
Kohberger’s attorneys claimed he used to “walk around alone at night” and did so on the night of the murders.
One of the surviving housemates who was not attacked also said she saw the killer and that he had “bushy eyebrows” – another feature of Kohberger’s appearance.
“He was out driving late at night and early in the morning from November 12 to 13, 2022,” the attorneys said, adding that he “does not claim to be at a specific location at a specific time.”
Prosecutors have demanded more details about his alleged alibi and claim that “driving in the area” does not exonerate him but rather places him at the scene.
Kohberger’s attorneys claimed he used to “walk around alone at night” and did so on the night of the murders.
His team also called for prosecutors to be forced to release DNA profiles they will use in court.
The defense also filed a request to delay court proceedings to allow him time to investigate possible procedural issues with the grand jury, which indicted him in May.
In addition to insisting on his alibi, prosecutors also responded by asking that the DNA profiles be shielded, while filing motions on issues related to the timing of Kohberger’s upcoming trial.
Prosecutors are set to present a wealth of evidence into the alleged crimes, including his DNA which police say they found on a knife holster that was left at the gruesome scene.
The other key piece of evidence that prosecutors hope to convince the jury is Kohberger’s white Hyundai Elantra car, which was reportedly seen in the area in CCTV footage.
One of the surviving housemates who was not attacked also said she saw the killer and that he had “bushy eyebrows”, another feature of Kohberger’s appearance.
