BOISE, Idaho – The man charged with killing four University of Idaho students will be in court Thursday for the last scheduled hearing before his August trial.
Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle in November 2022.
He faces the death penalty if convicted.
Kohberger is scheduled to go on trial this summer in Boise. The trial was moved from Latah County.
Thursday is Kohberger’s pre-trial hearing, where both sides will check in with the judge on any outstanding issues that need to be discussed before the trial begins.
Leading up to Thursday’s hearing, Judge Steven Hippler has made significant rulings on what evidence will be allowed at trial at what is not permitted.
The defense has presented several arguments as to why Kohberger should not be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, but Judge Hippler has rejected all of those motions.
In recent weeks, the prosecution and the defense have presented proposed jury questions, but those documents have been sealed by the court.
The parties also have agreed on how to address the genetic genealogy evidence that was used to first identify Kohberger in the case.
That evidence has been controversial because the defense says it was illegally obtained.
Prosecutors have said that was just one piece of the puzzle to initially connect Kohberger to the crime, but that they have other evidence and will not rely on the investigative genetic genealogy evidence to prove their case.
The hearing is scheduled to get underway at 8 a.m. PST. We will stream the hearing live on KXLY+ and KXLY.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
