Defense Challenges Evidence in Idaho Murder Case
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In a significant legal development, defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students, are urging a judge to dismiss much of the evidence against him. They argue that the case’s foundation relies on an unconstitutional genetic investigation method known as Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG). The two-day legal hearing commenced Thursday, with a substantial portion closed to the public, placing the validity of the prosecution’s evidence at stake.
Kohberger faces four murder charges related to the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, who were fatally attacked on November 13, 2022. He has pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors have indicated plans to pursue the death penalty if convicted.
The defense asserts that Kohberger’s constitutional rights were compromised during the IGG process, which involves uploading DNA samples to public genealogy databases when traditional methods fail. Defense attorney Anne Taylor contends that critical phases of the investigation lacked necessary search warrants, thereby rendering the resulting evidence inadmissible.
Conversely, Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye countered that there’s nothing unconstitutional about the use of IGG, highlighting that Kohberger’s claims about DNA privacy do not hold merit under the Fourth Amendment.
The defense also alleges misconduct regarding the search warrant applications, claiming law enforcement omitted significant details that would have affected the magistrate’s decisions. They argue that inaccuracies portrayed Kohberger as more suspicious than he was.
With the hearing ongoing, the court proceedings are being livestreamed, allowing public scrutiny of this high-profile case as Kohberger’s defense aims to dismantle key evidence ahead of the scheduled trial in August.
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