Defense attorneys late last week filed multiple motions aimed at taking the death penalty off the table for Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students on November 2022.
Kohberger’s attorneys filed 13 challenges to the state’s intention to seek the death penalty on Thursday, court records show. The challenges target several aggravating factors the prosecution had noted as well as international law, vagueness, and contemporary standards of decency.
Prosecutors in the case filed notice they intended to seek the death penalty in June 2023, as CrimeOnline reported. The deadline for challenging that assertion was Thursday.
A hearing on the challenges has been set for November 7, The Columbian reported. Prosecutors have until October 10 to submit their response to the defense motions.
Kohberger is charged with killing Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, on November 13, 2022. He is also charged with one count of burglary. The trial has been set to begin in June 2025.
Late last month, Judge John C. Judge heard arguments on the defense’s motion for a change of venue. He has not yet issued a ruling.
The motions to strike the death penalty range from calling Idaho laws regarding capital punishment “unconstitutionally vague” to challenging each of the prosecution’s aggravating factors warranting the death penalty.
