BOISE, Idaho — Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022, on Thursday morning.
Kohberger’s legal team has filed a motion seeking to strike the death penalty from his case, citing concerns that Idaho’s statutory right to a speedy trial is preventing his attorneys from providing effective counsel in the case.
Kohberger faces charges for the deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, whose bodies were discovered in November 2022. Following his arrest in Pennsylvania in December 2022 and extradition to Idaho, Kohberger’s defense team has argued that the state’s legal framework for a speedy trial—under Idaho Code § 19-3501—fails to accommodate the complexities of preparing a death penalty case.
Kohberger’s defense said that Idaho’s law mandates a trial within six months of an indictment, but a capital case, such as Kohberger’s, requires significantly more time to properly prepare. Kohberger’s attorneys contend that this fast-tracked timeline violates his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel, forcing him to choose between a fair trial and his right to a speedy one.
. However, his defense argues that even this extended timeline does not allow for adequate preparation in such a high-stakes case.
Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the hearing is expected to address whether the death penalty should be dismissed based on concerns about the speed of the trial process and the rights of the defendant.
His hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time.
