Bryan Kohberger: Family of slain Idaho student slams slow pace of murder trial, demands 'hard deadlines'

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

MOSCOW, IDAHO: The family of Kaylee Goncalves, a University of Idaho student slain in a quadruple homicide, voiced their frustration at the sluggish pace of Bryan Kohberger's murder trial, likening it to a 'hamster wheel' of procedural motions and hearings.

“This case is turning into a hamster wheel of motions, hearings, and delayed decisions,” the Goncalves family said following the latest court hearing. “Can we all just agree that this case needs to move forward and the Judge needs to start setting hard deadlines in this case?”

Kohberger, 29, a PhD criminology student at Washington State University, is accused of the murder of Madison Mogen, 21, Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, at an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho, around 4 am on November 13, 2022. All victims were close friends and students at the University of Idaho.

Judge justifies closure of evidentiary hearing for fair decision making

Latah County District Court Judge John Judge recently ruled to close an upcoming evidentiary hearing to the public, a decision that further fueled concerns about transparency in the trial.

“I want to see what all the issues are, the arguments from both sides, so I can make the more fair decision. So, I’m going to close the hearing. At some point in the hearing, maybe we can open up part of it, but I need to dig in, and you need to dig in to exactly what is the problem with each one of these issues,” Latah County District Court Judge John Judge stated.

Defense advocates for public scrutiny in Bryan Kohberger's murder trial

Kohberger's defense advocated for public scrutiny, arguing “the need to protect the privacy and the sensitive information and ultimately protect the state and defendant’s rights to a fair trial outweighs the right to a public hearing.”

“This hearing needs to be in the public eye,” claimed defense attorney Anne C Taylor. “For the court to allow the prosecution to say we need to keep this all private for a fair trial really ignores the public nature of this case,” reported CNN.

Taylor added the hearing should be public “so people can start to wonder if Bryan is innocent. Your honor, Bryan is innocent and he has an absolute sixth amendment right to have his hearings in public." Despite the defense's efforts to present an alibi, the prosecution has contested the sufficiency of evidence supporting Kohberger's claims. The case remains subject to a gag order, limiting public discourse surrounding the trial. 

Kaylee Goncalves family calls for efficiency in legal proceedings

The Goncalves family alleged, “Not every motion needs a hearing. Not every decision needs to take a month to decide,” in a statement. “Discovery, discovery, discovery! You have what we want… no I don’t, yes you do… no I don’t, let’s have a new hearing….Hit repeat. This banter has been going on for 17 months. Then once you get a hearing, you have a hearing about the decision that was made at that hearing before the last hearing and there needs to be another hearing,” the statement asserted.

“I know our statement sounds as if we are incredibly frustrated and we are!. We understand the Justice system and we want a fair trial for the Defendant, but turning the case into a delay game serves no one’s interests other than the Defense. Once again thank you for all your kindness and prayers for our Family!” the statement continued.

Kohberger, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the four University of Idaho students, and awaits trial. Investigations have previously linked Kohberger to the murders through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath left at the scene. Additionally, authorities discovered the suspect's cell phone pinging in the vicinity of the crime scene on multiple occasions preceding the killings, according to a probable cause affidavit.

If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty.