Motion to dismiss Kohberger charges denied; no trial date set
- Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students
- Judge denied request to to dismiss indictment
- Trial date still not set
FILE – Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, looks toward his attorney, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Defense attorneys Kohberger, the man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death, have asked the Idaho Supreme Court to keep a gag order in place. The attorneys say a challenge to the order filed by 30 news organizations is premature and that media coverage of the case has been “twisted.” (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool,File)
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(NewsNation) — An Idaho judge on Friday denied a request from Bryan Kohberger’s defense lawyers to toss an indictment charging him with the deaths of four University of Idaho students.
The deaths of college students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin shook the small town of Moscow, Idaho. The case attracted national attention, which has led the judge to impose a strict gag order on the case.
Kohberger’s defense team and prosecutors were in court Friday for two hearings in the case.
The first hearing was closed to the public and the media, and Kohberger’s attorneys asked Judge John Judge to dismiss the charges. They claimed the grand jury that handed up an indictment was shown inadmissible evidence.
The motion was denied.
The second hearing was open to media and asked the judge reconsider a motion to dismiss the indictment. That, too, was denied. Kohberger’s attorneys have also asked the judge to unseal filings related to the motion to dismiss.
The hearing was livestreamed on the court’s YouTube channel following a previous decision by Judge to impose restrictions on the media and remove pool cameras from the courtroom. The decision to limit cameras came after Judge criticized the media for focusing too much on Kohberger during filming.
A scheduling conference followed the second hearing, with both sides indicating there would be substantial work to be done before a trial could be heard. The conference concluded without a trial date being set.
NewsNation’s Alex Caprariello visited the Mad Greek restaurant, where Kernodle and Mogen worked and where a number of staff quit their jobs because the memories were too painful.
The restaurant now has a memorial to the four students set up next to the bar to honor their memories.