Bryan Kohberger, who is the main suspect in the brutal murder of four University of Idaho students last year, has waived his right to a speedy trial, bringing the process to a near standstill.
Kohberger is facing the death penalty, so perhaps his legal team is just trying to buy time for him.
The Hill reports:
Trial of alleged Idaho college murderer delayed indefinitelyThe trial of Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four Idaho college students last year, has been delayed indefinitely after he waived his right to a speedy trial Wednesday.Kohberger’s trial was originally scheduled for Oct. 2 and was set to move forward after Latah County Magistrate Judge John Judge denied his legal team’s request for a stay Friday.However, Kohberger waived his right Wednesday to a speedy trial, allowing the court to schedule his trial more than six months out from his arraignment.Kohberger’s lawyer, Anne Taylor, reportedly told the court that his legal team was not prepared to present their case by the original October trial date, according to CNN.Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Kohberger, who is accused of killing University of Idaho students Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental house near the campus last November.
According to this video report, the state was just fine with this decision.
CBS News has a few more details:
Uncuffed and in plain clothes, Bryan Kohberger walked into a courtroom Friday as the families of the four University of Idaho college students he is accused of murdering last year watched from feet away.In the hearing, Kohberger’s defense questioned the validity of DNA found on a knife sheath at the crime scene that authorities allege connected him to the four murders. Defense attorneys demanded more information from prosecutors about the DNA.”They have provided full DNA discovery for the sheath, the knife sheath, but not the other three unidentified male DNA samples,” defense attorney Anne Taylor told the judge.Prosecutors countered that they have handed over what they have.”We have given the defense everything that we have received from the lab. They’ve asked for DNA work-ups on other people. To the extent that they don’t have them, they weren’t done,” Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said. “We can’t produce something that doesn’t exist.”
Kohberger could face a firing squad if convicted.
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