Murder of students in Moscow: details of the case against Brian Kohberger
10 september 2024 в 00:37
Four students from the University of Idaho were fatally stabbed in November 2022, and the case has captured the nation’s attention ever since. Now, as the alleged killer, Brian Kohberger, began his trial in October 2023, more information has been uncovered. However, the judge recently moved his trial due to alleged bias towards the situation. For a full chronological overview and updates on the case, keep reading.
On November 13, 2022, University of Idaho students Kaylee Gonzales, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Zana Kernodle were found dead in their shared house off-campus in Moscow, Idaho. Authorities revealed that the young people were likely killed while they were sleeping.
Several hours before their murder, Gonzales and Mogen went to a local club, while Ethan and Zana attended a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity.
There are two survivors of the murders: roommates Bethany Funk and Dylan Mortensen. Reports indicate that Mortensen claimed to have seen the killer on November 13. She described the killer as a «figure in black clothing and a mask» and locked herself in her room upon seeing him walk through the house.
Initially, Bethany resisted a legal request to testify in court. Meanwhile, Kohberger’s defense team insisted that she appear in court in Idaho because they believed Funk’s testimony could exonerate Kohberger. However, she ultimately agreed to testify from Nevada during Kohberger’s preliminary hearing in Idaho.
A month after their deaths, police identified a criminal justice student from Washington state, Kohberger, as a suspect. He was arrested and charged in Pennsylvania with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. Police explained that they linked Kohberger to the crime scene through forensic analysis of a knife. The DNA closely matched Kohberger’s DNA, officials reported.
At his preliminary hearing in January 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, and the trial was initially set for June 26. Jurors officially charged Kohberger with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. He pleaded not guilty at the time.
Kohberger’s trial was ultimately postponed to October 26. Reports indicate that his defense team claims that the grand jury indictment did not contain sufficient evidence linking Kohberger to the crime scene, and that the jurors were biased in their decision.
In August 2023, Kohberger’s defenders presented his alibi, claiming that at the time of the murders, he was behind the wheel. «Mr. Kohberger is accustomed to driving alone», - court documents stated regarding Kohberger’s alibi. «Mr. Kohberger does not claim to have been in a specific place at a specific time; at this time, there is no specific witness who could accurately say where Mr. Kohberger was at every moment between late evening on November 12, 2022, and early morning on November 13, 2022».
In September 2024, the judge moved Kohberger’s trial due to alleged «biased» media coverage that could potentially «undermine a fair trial». Kohberger’s team requested a change of venue from Latah County due to the «inflammatory» publicity he received.
«Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has demonstrated a fairly low standard of demonstrating 'reasonable likelihood' that biased news coverage will undermine a fair trial in Latah County», - wrote the Idaho judge in a statement, according to CNN
On November 13, 2022, University of Idaho students Kaylee Gonzales, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Zana Kernodle were found dead in their shared house off-campus in Moscow, Idaho. Authorities revealed that the young people were likely killed while they were sleeping.
Several hours before their murder, Gonzales and Mogen went to a local club, while Ethan and Zana attended a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity.
There are two survivors of the murders: roommates Bethany Funk and Dylan Mortensen. Reports indicate that Mortensen claimed to have seen the killer on November 13. She described the killer as a «figure in black clothing and a mask» and locked herself in her room upon seeing him walk through the house.
Initially, Bethany resisted a legal request to testify in court. Meanwhile, Kohberger’s defense team insisted that she appear in court in Idaho because they believed Funk’s testimony could exonerate Kohberger. However, she ultimately agreed to testify from Nevada during Kohberger’s preliminary hearing in Idaho.
A month after their deaths, police identified a criminal justice student from Washington state, Kohberger, as a suspect. He was arrested and charged in Pennsylvania with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. Police explained that they linked Kohberger to the crime scene through forensic analysis of a knife. The DNA closely matched Kohberger’s DNA, officials reported.
At his preliminary hearing in January 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, and the trial was initially set for June 26. Jurors officially charged Kohberger with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. He pleaded not guilty at the time.
Kohberger’s trial was ultimately postponed to October 26. Reports indicate that his defense team claims that the grand jury indictment did not contain sufficient evidence linking Kohberger to the crime scene, and that the jurors were biased in their decision.
In August 2023, Kohberger’s defenders presented his alibi, claiming that at the time of the murders, he was behind the wheel. «Mr. Kohberger is accustomed to driving alone», - court documents stated regarding Kohberger’s alibi. «Mr. Kohberger does not claim to have been in a specific place at a specific time; at this time, there is no specific witness who could accurately say where Mr. Kohberger was at every moment between late evening on November 12, 2022, and early morning on November 13, 2022».
In September 2024, the judge moved Kohberger’s trial due to alleged «biased» media coverage that could potentially «undermine a fair trial». Kohberger’s team requested a change of venue from Latah County due to the «inflammatory» publicity he received.
«Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has demonstrated a fairly low standard of demonstrating 'reasonable likelihood' that biased news coverage will undermine a fair trial in Latah County», - wrote the Idaho judge in a statement, according to CNN
© Artemenko Olga
