Brian Koberger, the 29-year-old former criminology doctoral student accused of killing four University of Idaho students, was back in court for a hearing Thursday, with an eye on a judge setting a 2022 trial date for the mass murders.
Lawyers were instructed to prepare to address several other issues related to the schedule, including when the defense will challenge the death penalty and setting pretrial deadlines.
At the time of the murder, Koberger was a student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, just a 10-mile drive across the state line from the crime scene.
The way Brian Koberger sits in court says a lawyer’s confidence: Expert
Brian Koberger walks into the courtroom looking at his attorney, Ann Taylor, for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Monday, May 22, 2023. Koberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (Zak Wilkinson/Pool via Reuters)
Four college students were killed in the home invasion stabbing at 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022: Madison Mogen (21), Kaylee Gonsalves (21), Zana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20).
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Madison Morgen (top left) leans on her best friend Kaylee Gonsalves’ shoulder and smiles with Ethan Chapin, Zana Kernodle and two other housemates in Gonsalves’ final Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)
Police found a cover knife sheath underneath Morgen’s body, which allegedly had Koberger’s DNA on the tip of the sheath.
Idaho murder case: Brian Koberger’s defense ‘firmly believes’ in his innocence
According to court documents, investigators followed Koberger’s Hyundai Elantra as it weaved through the area on its way to and from the crime scene.
The defense has accused the prosecution of delaying disclosure of evidence, and the trial has already been delayed for more than a year.
Judge John Judge spoke during a hearing on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. (August Frank/Pool via Reuters)
Investigators said cell phone ringtones indicated Koberger was near his home on the day of the murders, but the defense argues he was not near the home where the murders occurred, but rather liked to “look at the moon and the stars” and was driving up a rugged mountain road in the dark.
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Coburger’s face Four rates He was charged with first-degree murder and felony theft.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
