Bicka Barlow, previously a witness for the defense, joins Kohberger legal team

The Idaho student murders suspect, Bryan Kohberger, is gearing up for his legal battle as he faces charges that could result in the death penalty for the home-invasion murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022. To bolster his defense team, he has enlisted the expertise of San Francisco attorney Bicka Barlow, a DNA forensics expert who testified on his behalf during a previous hearing in August 2023.

Barlow, who holds a bachelor’s degree in genetics from UC Berkeley and a master’s from Cornell University, brings a wealth of experience in DNA analysis to Kohberger’s defense. She has successfully challenged the admissibility of short tandem repeat (STR) DNA evidence in court, a common method of DNA analysis. Additionally, Barlow is well-versed in mitochondrial DNA and Y-STR testing, which can provide crucial insights in cases involving genetic evidence.

With Barlow now part of Kohberger’s legal team, deputy Jay Logsdon will continue to serve as a consultant but will not represent Kohberger at trial. DNA evidence has been pivotal in linking Kohberger to the murders, with a knife sheath found under one of the victim’s remains containing DNA that pointed to him as a suspect.

The investigation into Kohberger’s involvement in the murders was sparked by a tip from the FBI following a genetic genealogy investigation. However, there have been concerns raised about the FBI’s use of genealogy databases, with defense witness Dr. Leah Larkin testifying that investigators accessed databases that were not meant to be used by law enforcement.

Despite these challenges, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler has ruled that the FBI’s actions did not violate the Constitution or undermine the probable cause for Kohberger’s arrest. As the trial approaches, Kohberger is preparing to face the legal consequences of the heinous crimes he is accused of committing.

Kohberger’s trial is set to commence in August and could last up to 15 weeks. If convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty. The addition of Barlow to his defense team underscores the critical role that DNA evidence will play in the case, highlighting the importance of expert legal representation in complex criminal trials.