Prosecution and defense argue over DNA, discovery, alibi and venue in Kohberger hearing

MOSCOW, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with allegedly killing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022, was back in court today for a hearing where both the prosecution and the defense argued about DNA records, discovery, and a change of venue.

Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s defense attorney argues that since there is such a large amount of discovery that she still hasn’t received, she is pushing for a mid-summer 2025 trial date at a different venue.

While Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson says that his office is working as fast as it can to get the defense the discovery needed, however they are waiting on other agencies such as the FBI, the Pullman Police Department, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, among others.

Thompson noted that deadlines are necessary to get this process completed and to get this case to trial and suggested to the court a March 3, 2025, start date to begin the trial process.

The state also brought up the fact that Kohberger, and his defense still, has not supplied the state with a statement of alibi the night that the four UI students were murdered in November of 2022.

Latah County Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings said “The State is asking the court to either limit the defendant to prevent evidence about the disclosure that he made related to the alibi which was he was driving around the night of the homicides.”

Jennings went further to say, “But not allowing any further discussion of evidence of an alibi given the amount of time that has passed since the state requested that alibi disclosure.”

However, Taylor did not agree with that statement and said that when the state vacated the trial date last year, that vacated all dates related to the case moving forward until a new trial date could be set.

The judge issued an April 17th date for both sides to provide supplemental information to the court before he makes a decision on when and where the jury trial will be held.

Kohberger, 29, is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in their off-campus home on King Road in Moscow that has since been demolished.

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