(NewsNation) — Attorneys on Thursday argued over questions in a phone survey intended to gauge how much locals know about the criminal case against Bryan Kohberger, according to local reports.
Kohberger, 29, is charged in the 2022 stabbing deaths of Idaho college students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The case rocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and led to a suspect search that lasted more than a month and drew national attention.
Thursday’s court arguments centered around a phone survey issued to 400 Latah County residents, The Lewiston Tribune reported.
Kohberger attorney Anne Taylor hired the survey expert who wrote the questions, which included whether respondents had read, seen or heard about details of the case. Some of those details included a knife sheath reportedly discovered at the scene and allegations that Kohberger stalked the victims and visited the crime scene multiple times, the newspaper reported.
Prosecutor Bill Thompson said not all of the details in the survey were true and that the questions violated a gag order barring anyone involved in the case from commenting on potential evidence outside of the courtroom.
Prosecutors learned about the survey from a recording that a respondent made of the phone call, several news outlets have reported.
Attorneys are expected to meet again Wednesday to continue weighing their next steps.
Kohberger’s attorneys have previously asked to dismiss the case and asked for a change of venue. They’ve additionally sought to push Kohberger’s potential trial to 2025.
Judge John Judge declined to set a trial date but scheduled a hearing for May 14, 2024, to decide on the change of venue request and set a date for the trial to begin.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.