Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger to appear in court

Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the Idaho murders case, is set to appear in court this week for a hearing on 12 suppression motions filed by his defense team. This hearing comes after over two months since his last court appearance, where his defense team accused prosecutors of inadequate disclosures through the discovery process.

The defense team is seeking to exclude expert witnesses from the case and have nearly all evidence collected by the police against Kohberger thrown out. They are challenging the legality of search warrants, arguing that the probable cause was primarily established through investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), which they believe violates Kohberger’s Fourth Amendment rights. IGG is a new approach that allows police to build a suspect’s family tree by comparing DNA found at a crime scene to public databases.

Additionally, the defense is arguing that the search warrants were overly broad, particularly during the searches of electronic devices like Kohberger’s phone, laptop, and online accounts. They are also pushing for more discovery, claiming they have not been provided with all the reports, research, and data on which expert prosecution witnesses will rely for trial testimony.

Kohberger is facing four charges of first-degree murder and felony burglary in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. The students were killed in a home invasion attack in November 2022, with prosecutors alleging that Kohberger snuck into the home while some of them were asleep and killed them with a large knife.

Evidence found at the crime scene, including a knife sheath with Kohberger’s DNA, phone records indicating stalking of the victims’ home, and a matching vehicle type, all point to Kohberger as the suspect. He was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University at the time of the murders.

Kohberger, who is being held without bail, could face the death penalty if convicted. The court is set to address the suppression motions and other motions in the upcoming hearing, with a potential continuation to Friday if necessary.

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