The family of accused killer Bryan Kohberger could be called to testify against him at the murder trial of four University of Idaho students, according to new filings.
“The state may call member(s) of the Kohberger family to testify at trial,” prosecutor Ashley Jennings said in court papers Monday.
She wants to keep members of his family who may appear as witnesses from attending the October trial.
The victims were identified as Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. kayleegoncalves/InstagramJennings’ filing was in response to Kohberger’s lawyers last week asking a judge to allow his family priority seating at trial, as the family of his alleged victims will be give, Fox News first reported. His lawyer claimed it was part of his constitutional trial rights for his family to be there.
Idaho law allows “immediate families of homicide victims” to be present for trial.
And while Kohberger has a constitutional right to a public trial “that does not extend to defendant choosing who sits in the courtroom,” Jennings wrote.
Idaho prosecutors asked a judge to reject, at least partially, Bryan Kohberger’s request to give his family priority seating at his upcoming trial. Indiana State Police/MegaProsecutors will be filing their witness list with the judge by April 21 and any of Kohberger’s family included on the list “should be excluded from the courtroom until they testify,” the prosecutor wrote.
It is standard procedure for witnesses to be barred from attending trial until after they’ve taken the witness stand, to prevent anyone from tailoring their testimony to fit with other witnesses or evidence.
Kohberger’s side also requested that victims’ family members be prevented from wearing any clothing with messages — includiging slogans in support of the victims or t-shirts saying he should get the death penalty.
The 30-year-old former criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University is accused of driving to the neighboring University of Idaho and killing four students. Getty ImagesHis lawyers also asked that jurors be allowed to hear from medical experts to be called by his lawyers who would testify about his autism, obsessive compulsive disorder and a developmental coordination disorder — all to explain his icy courtroom demeanor.
Kohberger, a 30-year-old Ph.D. criminology student at Washington State University, is accused of killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in the early hours of Nov. 13 2022, at their off-campus housing, not far from where his school was.
Kohberger, who pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, faces the possibility of the death sentence if he’s convicted.
