Bryan Kohberger – updates: Idaho murders suspect may face firing squad as judge compares case to Lori Vallow

Bryan Kohberger appeared in court in Moscow, Idaho, on Tuesday as the Idaho murders case heads to trial

Bryan Kohberger arrives at court hearing

Bryan Kohberger is in a fight for his life as he may now face the firing squad if convicted of the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

On Monday, prosecutors announced they plan to seek the death penalty against him. In Idaho, the use of firing squad as an alternative death sentence method to lethal injection will go into force on 1 July – ahead of his October trial.

Now, the 28-year-old’s attorneys are seeking a trove of evidence from prosecutors which they say is key to him being able to defend himself.

Arguments about some of this evidence were heard in a court hearing on Tuesday, where the judge compared the case to that of Lori Vallow.

Judge John Judge pointed to the equally high-profile Idaho murder case as he warned the media about the use of cameras in the courtroom, saying that if they continue to focus only on Mr Kohberger, cameras could be banned altogether.

It also emerged this week that Mr Kohberger was convicted of theft nine years before he allegedly brutally stabbed the four University of Idaho students to death in Moscow.

Key points

• Bryan Kohberger appears in court in suit
• Judge invokes Lori Vallow case in brief hearing
• Prosecutors seek death penalty against Bryan Kohberger
• Bryan Kohberger claims DNA from three other men found at scene of Idaho murders

[29 June 2023 09:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Idaho prosecutor asks for funding hike to process Bryan Kohberger trial

An Idaho prosecutor has asked for a large funding increase to help cover the expenses it will cost to put quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger on trial.

The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office asked commissioners to provide $135,000 for trial expenses, a significant increase from the normal $15,000 budget, reported The Lewiston Tribune.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie reports:

[29 June 2023 10:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Xana Kernodle’s family plans tribute for her 21st birthday

“My sister, Xana Kernodle was born on July 5th, 2002 making this year her 21st birthday. We hope to celebrate #xanapalooza this year and every year by being silly, having fun, getting out of our comfort zones, and loving life like she did each day,” her sister Jazzmin wrote on Facebook.

“She had the most love for living each day to the fullest, creating memories, gaining new experiences, being silly, and of course all those who surrounded her. Help us celebrate #xanapalooza and honor Xana for her 21st birthday on July 5th by doing something fun, new and spontaneous!”

Xana Kernodle’s sister Jazzmin Kernodle posted this on Facebook (Jazzmin Kernodle/Facebook)

[29 June 2023 11:00 · Andrea Blanco]

WATCH: Idaho victim's mother explains why she will not attend Bryan Kohberger's trial

[29 June 2023 12:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Defence denies ‘fishing expedition'

Among the evidence requested by the defence are training records of three police officers who interviewed “critical” witnesses, information about the FBI team leading the criminal probe, and background on the tip that led to the search for Mr Kohberger’s white Hyundai and cellphone records cited in the probable cause affidavit.

Insisting it is not a “fishing expedition”, Mr Kohberger’s attorneys said they need the evidence to be able to give him a strong defence – particularly now that he is facing a death sentence.

“There is a heightened standard now that the State has announced its intent to seek the death penalty ... and these are very relevant pieces of information,” Mr Kohberger’s attorney said.

Prosecutors argued that most of those materials have already been made available to the defence.

The state also noted that the officers’ training records do not pertain to the case and could set an unfavourable precedent in future cases.

Mr Kohberger’s defence said that while there were more than 120 officers who worked in the murder investigation, they were only requesting records from three of them who played a critical role by collecting evidence, following up on tips and conducting more than a dozen interviews.

The judge told the court that he will be issuing a written ruling with the evidence that the prosecution must turn in by 14 July.

In a series of recent court filings, the defence has argued that the prosecution should hand over all information about the genetic genealogy and DNA evidence which ties Mr Kohberger to the murders of the four slain students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. This includes information about the scientists who carried out the DNA testing and what it was that led authorities to suspect him in the first place.

[29 June 2023 13:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Bryan Kohberger judge makes reference to Lori Vallow case as suit-clad Idaho murders suspect appears in court

The judge overseeing Bryan Kohberger’s death penalty case made a reference to another chilling Idaho murder case during the accused killer’s latest court hearing.

The 28-year-old criminology PhD student appeared in court in Moscow, Idaho, on Tuesday as his lawyers launched their fight for his life in the death penalty case.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie, he appeared solemn as he entered Latah County Courtroom and sat with his defence.

In the hearing, Judge John Judge pointed to the equally high-profile Lori Vallow murder case as he warned the media about the use of cameras in the courtroom.

Judge Judge said that outlets with cameras in the courtroom need to not focus solely on Mr Kohbeger, warning that some media has been “pushing the envelope”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp and Andrea Blanco report:

[29 June 2023 14:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Bryan Kohberger could face the firing squad for the Idaho murders

The man accused of breaking into a home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbing four students to death in a shocking attack is now in a fight for his own life.

This week, prosecutors in Idaho announced that they are seeking the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

While Mr Kohberger is fighting against the charges, this development – and a recent change in Idaho state law – now means that he could face the firing squad if convicted of the murders.

Read more here:

[29 June 2023 15:00 · Rachel Sharp]

WATCH: Bryan Kohberger appears in court for latest hearing in Idaho murders case

[29 June 2023 16:21 · Rachel Sharp]

What happened in court this week?

• Judge revised gag order to clarify that it does include members of law enforcement, investigators and expert witnesses for both sides
• Judge tells media not to focus cameras solely on Bryan Kohberger – or they run the risk of cameras being banned
• Judge revealed some issues on motion to compel and discovery had been resolved while some will be argued on a different day
• Defence asked judge to order prosecution to hand over evidence in case – including police training records and Bryan Kohberger’s cellphone records – insisting it is not a “fishing expedition” but that attorneys need the evidence for his defence

[29 June 2023 17:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Bryan Kohberger’s father called police on accused Idaho killer nine years before murders

Bryan Kohberger’s father called the police on his son nine years before his son allegedly murdered four University of Idaho students in a shocking knife attack that has horrified America.

Court records, newly obtained by ABC News, reveal that Mr Kohberger was arrested and charged with stealing one of his sister Melissa’s cellphones back in 2014.

The then-19-year-old had recently left rehab for drug addiction issues and had returned to the family home in Pennsylvania.

Read more here: