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By Kaitlin Lewis
Night Reporter
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Both hearings scheduled this week in the quadruple-murder trial of Bryan Kohberger, the 29-year-old man charged in the slayings of four University of Idaho students in late 2022, have been postponed until later this month.
A court order signed by U.S. District Judge John Judge states that the closed-door hearings, which were set for Tuesday and Thursday, are being delayed to allow both parties additional time to prepare. The hearings will now take place on May 30.
The Context
Kohberger is charged with four murder counts and one burglary count in the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were found dead in an off-campus home near the university on November 13, 2022. Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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The delayed hearings pertain to several motions filed by Kohberger's attorneys, who have accused state prosecutors of withholding evidence that they argue should be made available to the defense team. Prosecutors have responded to the motions but the content of the filings is sealed.
What We Know
According to court documents, the evidentiary hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday will now be open to the public at 10 a.m. May 30 PDT. But if "issues arise" during the hearing "that must be addressed in a sealed proceeding, the Court will clear the courtroom and discontinue the live stream of the proceedings on the Court's YouTube channel," Tuesday's order read.
The hearing that was scheduled for Thursday, regarding the defense team's request to review the investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) records used by the FBI to identify Kohberger, will take place behind closed doors at 1:30 p.m. May 30 PDT.
Views
Kohberger's team has argued that the evidence being withheld from the defense should have been made available through the discovery process. According to a report by the Idaho Statesman, the evidence in question includes the specific information used by police in the probable cause affidavit to arrest Kohberger, such as cellphone tower data, along with video and audio recordings of a white sedan near the scene of the killings.
"The state knows full well what they have and what they're withholding from us," Anne Taylor, public defender and lead attorney representing Kohberger, said at a hearing earlier this month, as reported by the Statesman. "We don't know what they're going to show, but we know they exist."
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has told the court that the "characterization that we're just consciously withholding information to frustrate the defense is utter nonsense."
"That is not true. We will provide everything we can that is providable under the rules," Thompson, who is leading the case against Kohberger, said at a previous hearing.
Newsweek reached out to Thompson and Taylor via email for comment on the schedule change. A gag order placed by a county judge last year limits what either party is allowed to say publicly about the trial.
What's Next
If more time is needed in the hearing on IGG records, the court has reserved space on its schedule for the proceedings to continue at 10 a.m. May 31 PDT. Another hearing is also set for June 27, where the court will hear arguments on whether the case should be moved from Latah County to ensure a fair trial.
A trial date has yet to be scheduled. Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted of the charges.
Update 05/14/24, 4:48 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.
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