MOSCOW, IDAHO: Lawyers representing murder suspect Bryan Kohberger have achieved a significant victory in their efforts to challenge the credibility of the University of Idaho murders investigation. Latah County District Judge John Judge has granted the defense team access to the training records of three police officers involved in the case.
The officers, who interviewed critical witness interviews and made investigative decisions, have not been named. The announcement comes after Khobergers lawyers, in late June, argued the prosecution should hand over the training records of the three police officers. Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology student at Washington State University, stands accused of fatally stabbing four students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—inside their off-campus house on November 13 of the previous year.
'There is a heightened standard now that the State has announced its intent to seek the death penalty'
"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," emphasized Kohberger's defense as per Daily Mail. Prosecutors recently confirmed their pursuit of the death penalty in Kohberger's case, which means that if convicted, he reportedly could face execution by firing squad should the state be unable to acquire the required lethal drugs.
The defense team highlighted the importance of the prosecution's full disclosure of all evidence in light of the severe consequences at stake. They said, "The death penalty hanging over the case made it even more important that the prosecution turn over all their evidence." The prosecution countered the defense's claims by stating that they had already provided all relevant materials, including 10,000 tips and 51 terabytes of audio and video information.
The defense accused the prosecution of a lack of transparency for obtaining DNA evidence
The defense previously also sought additional information regarding the FBI team that provided cell phone records used in the probable cause affidavit. While prosecutors agreed to provide the requested items, the defense requested a specific date of acquisition. In a previously reported filing, the defense attempted to undermine the indictment, accusing the prosecutors of concealing their case and lacking transparency regarding the methods employed to obtain DNA evidence and link it to the suspect.
Kohberger has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of murdering his roommates, Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Prosecutors had previously asserted that the DNA found on a knife sheath discovered at the crime scene was a statistical match to a cheek swab taken from the suspect. According to the FBI, publicly accessible DNA databases similar to 23andMe were utilized in the analysis.
More DNA's in the doomed Idaho home
But in documents filed on Thursday as reported by the Daily Mail, Kohberger's attorneys claimed there was 'no connection' between Kohberger and the students fatally stabbed in their off-campus Moscow home," revealed Kohberger's defense lawyers. They further claimed a complete absence of the victims' DNA in Kohberger's apartment, office, or vehicle. The defense team also revealed that a second male's DNA was found inside the Moscow home and that police allegedly found DNA from a third man on a glove discovered outside the home.
"To this date, the defense is unaware of what sort of testing, if any, was conducted on these samples other than the STR DNA profiles," it claimed in the filing. The defense's filing objects to the state's motion for a protective order and argues that the defense team should have access to all the data and investigative genetic genealogy that led prosecutors to claim that Kohberger's DNA, collected via a buccal swab, was a 'statistical match' to the DNA found on a knife sheath discovered at the crime scene. Kohberger’s trial is scheduled for October 2, but the date is expected to be delayed following several motions filed by his defense.
