The quadruple murder trial of Bryan Kohberger in Boise, Idaho, will be pushed back two months, a judge ruled on Wednesday.
Kohberger, 29, faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary, charged in the fatal stabbings of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus residence in 2022.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin in June 2025. District Judge Steven Hippler set the new start date for August 11, with jury selection beginning July 31. The trial is expected to run through November 7.
Kai Eiselein/New York Post via AP, Pool
The change follows concerns raised by Hippler at a September 26 hearing that the initial trial schedule interfered with the entire summer vacation period, which could pose difficulties for jurors. The proceeding was the first time Kohberger appeared in an Ada County courtroom.
At the hearing, Hippler suggested moving the start date to May or September. Prosecutors favored the earlier date while the defense preferred the later date.
The June start date was set by Judge John Judge, of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District in Latah County, who was initially presiding over the case. The trial was relocated from Latah County to Ada County last month after a ruling by Judge in the defense’s favor. Hippler took over the case when it was moved.
Hippler also set the daily schedule for the trial, which will begin each day at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be a lunch break each day of around 45 minutes. Hippler noted that some weeks could be shortened due to “other obligations of the court.”
Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted. The defense has argued that the sentence would be unconstitutional in a series of motions.
Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is found guilty. In one court filing, they said they had “not identified or been provided with any mitigating circumstances” to bar them from considering capital punishment.
A hearing on the subject is scheduled for November 7, and proceedings on additional motions will be held on January 23 and April 3. Deadlines for submitting experts and trial materials were also set.
Kohberger is being held in Ada County Jail in Boise as he awaits trial. Ada is the largest county in the state, with a population of nearly 495,000.
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