An Idaho judge formally denied Bryan Kohberger’s request to reconsider dismissing the grand jury indictment that charged him with murdering four college students in 2022.
KIVI reported that Bryan Kohberger’s lawyers have sought twice to have the grand jury indictment dismissed, but both requests were rejected in October. In turn, defense attorneys held a hearing in January to reconsider these denials, but Judge John Judge — once again — rejected their request.
In his order, the judge also denied Kohberger’s request to appeal the matter to a higher court.
“The Court does not find error with any factual findings or application of well-settled law to the facts as found. In reaching its decision, the Court spent a significant amount of time reviewing the grand jury proceedings and researching the issues presented by Defendant. Reconsideration does not change the Court’s decisions,” he wrote, per KIVI.
On multiple instances, defense attorneys have sought to have his grand jury indictment dismissed — claiming 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.
Last month, 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.
Late last month, Kohberger’s attorneys also requested that court proceedings be moved out of Latah County — claiming the case has garnered “extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity” which would make it impossible for their client to have a fair trial there. They also asserted that selecting an impartial jury in Latah County would be impossible for the same reasons.
In turn, Kohberger’s lawyers have requested to schedule an evidentiary presentation and argument before the end of April.
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.
[Featured image: Bryan Kohberger/Kai Eiselein/New York Post via AP, Pool]
