Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger’s Plea To Dismiss Charges In Killings Of 4 Idaho Students Is Rejected By Judge

On Thursday, lawyers for Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with the murder of four Idaho students, presented arguments as to why the grand jury indictment against Kohberger should be dismissed.

Kohberger, 28, stands accused of brutally butchering four University of Idaho students during a home invasion attack days before Thanksgiving last year.

The victims were university students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Earlier this year, defense attorney Jay Logsdon filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against Kohberger. The motion cited concerns of grand jury bias, the presence of “inadmissible” and insufficient evidence, as well as allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.

Judge John Judge of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District in Latah County denied the motion.

Logson argued that the standard of proof should be raised to “beyond a reasonable doubt,” rather than Idaho’s general “sufficient probability cause” that is standard at the grand jury level.

The judge denied his request, and said that changes to the legal system would have to be taken up “with a higher court”– the state’s Supreme Court.

The judge allowed for the cameras in the courtroom to stay, although he did call for “more control” over them. The decision was strongly opposed by Kohberger’s attorneys and the prosecution.

An attorney for the family of Goncalves said in a statement: “It is vitally important that the trial be viewed publicly! It is important to the victims’ family, relatives, community members, and the public that this veil of secrecy be lifted at trial.”

Pennsylvania police arrested Kohberger while he was in the Poconos at his parents’ house, roughly seven weeks after the massacre. 

DNA found at the crime scene was found to match Kohberger’s.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder, along with one count of felony burglary. The maximum penalty if he is convicted would be death by firing squad.