DNA evidence takes center stage Thursday in Idaho student murder case

BOISE, Idaho – Some of the key evidence that investigators used to arrest a man suspected of killing four University of Idaho college students will come under fire Thursday at a court hearing in Boise.

At one point, police used genetic genealogy to connect Bryan Kohberger to the crime scene where Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were killed.

Defense attorneys don’t believe the process used to make that DNA match was transparent or legal and they want it thrown out.

Kohberger’s case was moved to Ada County; that’s where he’s expected to stand trial in August. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

His defense team has argued all along that the genetic genealogy evidence was illegally used and should not be allowed at trial.

They’ll have the chance to argue that in court Thursday.

Much of what will be argued – and who will argue it – is unclear because Judge Steven Hippler has allowed exhibits and witness lists to be sealed. As of Wednesday afternoon, some of Thursday’s hearing will be open and live streamed, but some will be done in a closed courtroom.

4 News Now is part of a broad coalition of journalism organizations arguing against the closure of the hearing. The coalition includes all of the Spokane television stations, the Spokesman-Review, the New York Times, ABC News and others.

“While the Court’s Order setting the January 21 hearing unambiguously closed the hearing to the public (and thus, the press), it did not make any specific findings as to the probability that the Defendant’s right to a fair trial would be prejudiced, nor was any member of the public or press provided an opportunity to raise objections to the closure,” reads the motion filed by the media coalition.

The judge is hearing from attorneys representing the media coalition Wednesday afternoon.

It’s not clear how quickly he’ll decide on the motions related to the DNA in Thursday’s hearings.