Idaho prosecutors have rejected a series of motions filed by the defense of Bryan Kohberger, who is facing charges in connection with the slaying of four college students. The prosecutors have defended the search warrants executed in the case, stating that there was 'substantial probable cause' to seize evidence from various locations linked to the defendant.
Latah County prosecuting attorney Bill Thompson emphasized that the warrants were based on substantial probable cause, urging the judge to uphold them despite the defense's objections. The defense had sought to suppress DNA evidence, searches on Kohberger's devices and accounts, as well as searches of his car and his parents' home.
The incident in question involved the early morning massacre of four University of Idaho students, allegedly carried out by Kohberger with a large knife. The victims were identified as Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was arrested weeks after the incident at his parents' house in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors claim to have found incriminating evidence linking him to the crime scene, including DNA on a knife sheath and phone records indicating suspicious activity.
The defense team, led by Anne Taylor, Jay Logsdon, and Elisa Massoth, is pushing for a Franks hearing to challenge the validity of the warrants. However, legal experts suggest that such hearings are rarely granted and face significant hurdles in court.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Kohberger is being held without bail and could potentially face the death penalty if convicted. The trial is scheduled to commence next year, with the defendant due back in court for further proceedings.
