Bryan Kohberger’s defense team argued in court on Thursday for the dismissal of the grand jury indictment against him in the Idaho student murders case. Defense attorney Jay Logsdon cited grand jury bias, insufficient evidence, and prosecutorial misconduct as reasons for the dismissal. However, Judge John Judge of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District denied the motion.
Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Logsdon also argued for a higher standard of proof, “beyond a reasonable doubt,” instead of Idaho’s usual “sufficient probable cause” standard at the grand jury level. However, the judge stated that any changes to the legal system would need to be addressed by the state’s Supreme Court.
During the hearing, Judge expressed his desire for more control over the cameras in the courtroom but did not ban their presence altogether. The case has drawn significant media attention, and the judge wants to ensure that the cameras do not disrupt proceedings.
The victims of the home invasion attack were University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, all in their early twenties. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The trial continues, with deadlines set by the judge for the prosecution and defense to meet. Kohberger’s defense team has alleged 24 flaws in the indictment, but their motion to dismiss was unsuccessful.
This article was written by Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, a breaking news writer for Digital and Fox Business. She is based in Orlando, Florida.
