1 week Ago
IDAHO, USA — The man accused of killing four University of Idaho students will appear in the Ada County Courthouse Wednesday and Thursday for a hearing that could impact the course of his trial. Over 170 legal filings are under review, with defense attorneys representing Bryan Kohberger, challenging key evidence the prosecution hopes to present to the jury during the quadruple murder trial. "We are worried about what will happen if we don't have better disclosures.
The jury will be in and out and in and out," said Anne Taylor, Kohberger's defense attorney, during a recent hearing regarding DNA evidence. Defense attorneys filed several motions – hoping for certain pieces of evidence to not be discussed in the upcoming trial, and not shown to the jury. Among the contested items are Amazon purchases allegedly made by Kohberger, including a KA-BAR knife, sheath and sharpener.
Prosecutors say a matching sheath was found at the crime scene with DNA linked to Kohberger, while the defense suggests the knife sheath could have been planted. The defense also challenges the 911 call made by the surviving roommates' phones, arguing it contains hearsay that shouldn't be included at trial. In the call, a roommate states, "one of our roommates who's passed out and she was drunk last night, and they saw some man in their house last night," later adding, "she's not waking up.
" Prosecutors contend the call qualifies as an "excited utterance" under Idaho Rules of Evidence and should be played during the trial. Text messages between surviving roommates Dylan Mortenson and Bethany Funk are also in dispute. Court filings show they repeatedly texted and called the victims.
At 4:37 p.m., messages between them included "I am freaking out right now" and "He had something over his forehead and little and mouth, Bethany I am not kidding I am so freaked out.
" Records indicate Mortenson woke around 7:30 a.m., called her parents, used Instagram and took photos.
The roommates didn't call 911 until 11:56 a.m. Defense attorneys argue that if these texts are admitted, all cell phone records should be presented to show the complete picture.
Prosecutors maintain the selected texts adequately portray the timeline between the murders and the 911 call. Kohberger’s trial is scheduled to begin in August, with the outcome of this week's hearings potentially shaping the prosecution's case..
