MOSCOW, IDAHO: A judge presiding over the quadruple murder case against Bryan Kohberger, has approved the defendant's request to remove news crews and press photographers from the courtroom; but the proceedings will still be streamed by the court.
The 28-year-old Washington State University student has been accused of stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus three-story rented home on November 13, 2022.
Earlier this year, Kohberger’s defense team filed a motion to ban cameras from the courtroom, citing the risk of journalists photographing confidential documents on the defense table.
In the filing, the defense, citing images they claimed were a "blatant violation,” claimed that the "camera-wielding courtroom observers have failed to obey" an earlier directive not to focus "exclusively" on their client, according to ABC News.
Idaho judge accuses the media of violating his requests
As a result of the defense’s request, Judge John C ordered the ban of cameras from the courtroom, saying, "It is the intense focus on Kohberger and his every move, along with adverse headlines and news articles, that leads the Court to conclude that continued photograph and video coverage inside the courtroom by the media should no longer be permitted."
In his order, he accused the media of violating his requests to refrain from filming before or after court sessions and to refrain from focusing just on Kohberger's face.
"Additionally, defense counsel has raised continued concerns with video footage and photographs capturing private documents on the counsel table. This is again in violation of the Court’s directives," the Judge wrote.
"The State has also raised issues of vulnerable victims and witnesses being filmed during testimony. At this juncture, the Court has no confidence that directives to stop photographing or videoing during such testimony would be adhered to."
Following the order, an Idaho court spokesman stated that the media members wouldn’t be allowed to take videos but the case will be live-streamed with court equipment.
"Friday's order states members of the media and public will not be allowed to record their own video, audio or take photographs of future hearings," Idaho courts spokesman Nate Poppino said in a statement, according to Fox News Digital.
"However, during future public hearings a court-provided live stream will be available through Judge John Judge's YouTube channel,” the statement continued.
Internet asks 'where can we watch' the trail
After Judge John C’s order surfaced on the internet, several users came up with inquiries regarding where they could watch the trial against Kohberger.
“What is the name of their YouTube channel? I don't know the name of the court lol,” one user asked. “It will be live streaming??” a second user wrote.
“It will be publicly available to all of us?” a third user inquired. “I feel like that is fair. Media has proven to cross boundaries that the court sets. Glad the court will allow a camera,” a fourth user said.
“Hopefully the audio will be better. Up until now, it has been ridiculous,” one more stated.
