Lawyers for accused quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger have argued that it would be “inhumane and dehumanizing” for him to be sent to death row.
Kohberger, 29, is accused of brutally murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at his off-campus home in November 2022.
He arrived in court Thursday morning to find out if he would face the death penalty if convicted. Kohberger appeared in civilian clothes — a black suit, a bright blue dress shirt and a patterned tie — for Thursday’s hearing after asking the court to forego prison attire.
He had successfully argued that his trial, scheduled to begin with jury selection on July 30, 2025, should be held outside the small town of Moscow, Idaho, where the crimes were committed.
Now the matter is being heard in Ada County, in the state capital of Boise, where the defense hopes to get a more favorable jury.
Kohberger’s attorney, Anne Taylor, asked newly appointed Judge Steven Hippler to rule out any possibility that he could be sentenced to death if convicted of the murders.
Accused quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger has arrived in court to find out if he could face the death penalty if convicted.
Kohberger, 29, is accused of brutally murdering Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at his off-campus home in November 2023.
Kohberger, 29, is on trial for the brutal November 2023 murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20 (all victims pictured) ).
In court, a lawyer for Kohberger said it would be “dehumanizing” to leave him on death row when “Idaho has no current and real means to execute anyone.”
Idaho last executed a death row inmate in 2012.
‘It is important that the court… understands pain and suffering. I don’t think our constitution allows him to be on death row.
‘The way Idaho is doing things now, it’s not really working. It’s not a realistic option to have him sit on death row and say that Idaho will figure out how to kill you at some point in the future in a way that isn’t cruel, unusual and a violation of rights.’
The defense is based on the belief that Idaho’s preferred method of execution, lethal injection, is not readily available due to nationwide shortages, and after authorities were unable to find a vein to administer the injection to the Thomas Creech sentenced to death.
As things stand, Idaho can execute inmates by firing squad as a secondary means.
But Taylor said the “anxiety and fear” of not knowing how he will die should be a factor in ruling out the death penalty in the Kohberger case.
‘When we talk about the recent history of what has happened in Idaho, there are problems. Real problems,” Kohberger’s defense stated. ‘It doesn’t work.
‘How is it right, fair… that someone has to sit there and wait for Idaho to figure it out?’
He appeared in civilian clothes — a black suit, a bright blue dress shirt and a patterned tie — at Thursday’s hearing after asking the court to forego prison attire.
He appeared in civilian clothes — a black suit, a bright blue dress shirt and a patterned tie — at Thursday’s hearing after asking the court to forego prison attire.
But Judge Hippler seemed confused by the argument, noting that if Kohberger is convicted and sentenced to death, it will likely be years before he is executed.
“He’s saying let’s take the death penalty off the table because, in his opinion, the current methods are unavailable or unconstitutional, but the reality is that if he is convinced, we know it will be more than a decade before it is carried out.” out,” Hippler said.
‘Who knows what methods there will be then. Who knows what technology will be available at that time?
Kohberger’s defense lawyers had previously argued that extensive media coverage and strong emotions in the university city of Moscow would make it difficult to find an impartial jury as prosecutors seek the death penalty.
Prosecutors argued they could find impartial jurors in Moscow by assembling a large group to choose from. They also said that the measure makes the victims’ relatives, lawyers and witnesses uncomfortable.
Kohberger (pictured in September 2024 booking) has maintained his innocence since his arrest in December 2022.
They have claimed that Kohberger’s DNA was found on the sheath of a Ka-Bar knife found at the victim’s off-campus home, although the murder weapon has never been found.
Officials also said cell phone data and surveillance placed Kohberger’s car at the crime scene, although the defense has disputed those claims.
The case attracted widespread national and international attention at the time.
Recent court filings show that his defense team has hired renowned forensic expert Dr. Barbara C. Wolf to testify remotely at today’s hearing.
Wolf is currently the coroner for Florida’s 5th and 24th districts, which include Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Seminole and Sumter counties. He has worked on several high-profile cases.
Most notably, he worked on OJ Simpson’s defense team while he was on trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1995.
Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest in December 2022.
