Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology Ph.D. student, is accused of killing Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20 on Nov. 13, 2022, at an off-campus home by stabbing them to death. Kohberger maintained his innocence ever since his arrest in December 2022, however, the evidence is not on his side. In addition, due to the high-profile nature of the case, deciding on a time and place for the trial has been a hassle, with the latest being that the trial was postponed from June 2, 2025, to August 11, 2025, with the jury selection beginning on July 30, 2025.
Setting the Time and Location
The Bryan Kohberger case had a former judge when the trial was set to take place in Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place. However, the Idaho Supreme Court changed the venue to Boise, the state capital which is 300 miles from Moscow, and with it changed the judge to Ada County Judge Steven Hippler. This change came from the fact that the defense argued that the high-profile nature of the case and also the strong emotions in the university town would make it a tough task to find an unbiased jury. The fact that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty is of no help either.
The newly set trial date for the Bryan Kohberger case appears to be a compromise between what the prosecution and the defense want, with the former wanting it set in May 2025, and the latter in September 2025. Judge Hippler said he didn’t want to commit potential jurors to the trial for the entirety of the summer under the former schedule, hence, the date change. The trial is now expected to last until November 7, 2025, with a hearing set on the same date to challenge the motions for the death penalty.
The Defense Vs. The Prosecution
When it comes down to the evidence in the Bryan Kohberger case, a Ka-Bar knife sheath was found under Mogen’s body that had Kohberger’s DNA on the snap, although the murder weapon has not been found yet. Moreover, cell phone data and surveillance put Kohberger and his Hyundai Elantra at the crime scene. The defense argued that Kohberger was far away from the crime scene, driving solo on the night of the murders “to look at the moon and stars.” What made things fiery between the defense and the prosecution as well is that there was over a year delay in the trials due to the prosecution “slow-walking the disclosure of evidence through discovery,” from the defense’s perspective
What Awaits Bryan Kohberger
The Bryan Kohberger case is one worth following as Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. If he ends up being convicted, he could face the death penalty. Kohberger has remained in police custody since December 2022. He was transferred from Moscow to Boise when the change of venue was declared and he made his first appearance in Hippler’s courtroom two weeks ago. Kohberger stood silent when he was asked to enter a plea so the judge entered a not guilty plea to all counts on his behalf.
Final Thoughts
The Bryan Kohberger case is expected to be a sensational one as it unfolds, even Judge Hippler said that the stakes in this case are “as high as they can be.” No one expects how the case may turn out to be. Can Kohberger really be facing the death penalty? Will the defense be able to find a way out of that? Or will the prosecution win and karma will get to Kohberger if he turns out to be guilty of these heinous murders?
