The judge in the murder trial of Bryan Kohberger is asking the media to withdraw, saying he has criticized their reporting of the case and has yet to make a final ruling on whether the trial can be televised.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths at a rental home near the university’s campus in Moscow, Idaho, last November
Judge John Judge presided over a hearing Wednesday where a coalition of media members lobbied alongside the prosecutor to have the trial photographed, televised and even live-streamed.
The judge said the media had “pushed the boundaries” with their coverage of the case and questioned whether the media had the right to “intervene” in the trial.
He dismissed the hearing without making a final ruling on whether the trial could have cameras.
Lawyers on both sides of the murder trial against Bryan Kohberger have asked the judge to limit camera access to the courtroom
(L-R) Housemates Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee’s shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke
Kohberger’s lawyers lobbied for the cameras to be removed from the courtroom or at least moved to another location, amid fears it would become a TV show.
The judge agreed, citing OJ Simpson’s ‘Trial of the Century’, which was shown on television for hours every day.
“If anyone looked at that case, it was a circus,” he said.
“It’s not the same media that it is today as it was 10 years ago with social media,” Judge added, arguing that social media and the focus on issues has “gone out of control.”
He ended by saying arguments were still pending before the hearing was canceled.
At Kohberger’s arraignment in May, the judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the defendant to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the death of Madison Mogen, Ethan ChapinXana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves.
After his arrest, Kohberger said he looks forward to being exonerated. Instead, prosecutors claim that investigators found his DNA on a gun found next to Mogen’s body.
At a hearing in late June, the judge said cameras in Moscow, Idaho — where the trial will take place — should show a wide view of the courtroom and not focus solely on Kohberger.
Kohberger’s attorney, Jay Logsdon, cited the judge’s warning during his filing to remove cameras, arguing that subsequent reporting of the allegations against Kohberger biased potential jurors in the region against him.
“The continued failure of observers to comply with the Court’s June 27 directive exacerbates this problem and results in a continued flooding of the potential jury pool with conclusive allegations and sensational nonsense disguised as factual reporting and analysis,” he wrote in a document that was made public at the end of last month.
The court will make the final decision on the role cameras will play in the murder case. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday.
Judges have made several rulings on high-profile cases in the past. Alex Murdaugh and OJ Simpson experienced trials that were broadcast live on television to the American public. ‘Cult mother’ Lori Vallow, on the other hand, mainly had her lawsuit thrown out by a judge.
In August, Kohhberger waived his right to a speedy trial, which prosecutors agreed to. The original trial date was October 2
Prior to the gruesome murders, Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology from Washington State University. Pictured: The house where four Idaho students were found murdered
Prior to the gruesome murders, Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology from Washington State University, just 10 miles from the University of Idaho, where the four victims were students.
If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.
Detectives relied on genetic genealogy to build their case against Kohberger, using genetic genealogy to build a DNA profile from the DNA left on a knife shell at the scene.
The FBI tracked down Kohberger by tracing his distant relatives through genetic genealogy databases – and then secretly collected a sample of his father’s DNA to confirm his identity.
Police say DNA found on a knife sheath left at the scene of the Idaho murder is a “statistical match” to a cheek swab taken from the suspect after his arrest.
During previous hearings, prosecutors have pushed for Kohberger to provide witnesses who could support an alibi. However, his defense said that “there is no specific witness at this time who can say exactly where Kohberger was” the night of the murders.
“He was away and driving during the late night and early morning hours of November 12 to 13, 2022,” attorneys said, adding that he “does not claim to be at a specific location at a specific time.”
Prosecutors have demanded more details about his alleged alibi, saying “driving in the area” does not exonerate him and instead places him at the scene.
Kohberger’s attorneys claim he had a habit of going out alone at night, and he did so the night of the murders.
During an earlier hearing, one of the victims’ relatives was seen wearing a pro-death penalty shirt
Last month, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, postponing his original Oct. 2 trial date.
Even though he wants to find a solution as quickly as possible, tThe prosecutor did not object and agreed to the delay was the best option.
A hearing is currently scheduled for September 22, where a trial date will be discussed further.
During the August hearing, when Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, relatives of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves allegedly mocked Kohberger wearing a pro-death penalty T-shirt.
In June, prosecutors indicated they would pursue the death penalty against Kohberger.
Goncalves’ family shared an emotional message on a Facebook page hours before the hearing, expressing fears that Kohberger’s trial would be postponed.
“Please pray for our family today,” they wrote. ‘We want to complete this process. Just the thought that it could take years kills me.”
“We are concerned that he will waive his right to a speedy trial,” the message said. “If he does, the trial won’t start on October 2 and there’s a good chance it won’t happen for years.”
Although the hearing was closed to the media and public, the victims’ families were allowed to attend via Zoom.