Bryan Kohberger, the 29-year-old former criminology Ph.D. student accused of killing four University of Idaho students, took a step closer to trial following a scheduling hearing held on Thursday. This hearing occurred more than a year after the 2022 massacre and 13 months after Kohberger's arraignment.
During the hearing, attorneys were directed to address various scheduling matters, including setting a time for the defense to challenge the death penalty and establishing pre-trial deadlines. Kohberger, dressed in a suit and tie, remained silent throughout the brief hearing, which concluded in under 20 minutes.
Presiding Judge John Judge expressed readiness to expedite proceedings, stating, 'We’re getting to a point of diminishing returns.' Both the defense and prosecution indicated willingness to aim for a trial date next summer, coinciding with the high school across the street being out of session.
Kohberger was pursuing studies at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, located just 10 miles away from the crime scene where the tragic events unfolded. The incident, a 4 a.m. home invasion stabbing, resulted in the deaths of four undergraduates on November 13, 2022 – Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Law enforcement discovered a Ka-Bar knife sheath under Mogen's body, allegedly containing Kohberger's DNA on the snap. Additionally, court documents revealed that Kohberger's Hyundai Elantra was traced following a circuitous route around the vicinity of the crime scene on the day of the murders.
The trial has faced delays exceeding a year, with defense counsel accusing the prosecution of sluggish evidence disclosure during discovery. While investigators cited cellphone pings placing Kohberger near the house on the day of the killings, the defense countered by asserting that he was driving along mountain roads to admire the night sky, far from the crime scene.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge. If convicted, he could potentially receive the death penalty. His next court appearance is scheduled for August to address his defense team's motion for a change of venue.
