Bryan Kohberger: Legal expert weighs in on suspect's alibi from night of quadruple Idaho murders
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
MOSCOW, IDAHO: Recently surfaced court documents have shed light on Bryan Kohberger's defense strategy following accusations of a quadruple murder in Idaho.
Kohberger, a 29-year-old criminology PhD student at Washington State University, stands charged with the brutal killings of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, at an off-campus residence on November 13, 2022.
Legal experts weigh in on Bryan Kohberger's alibi defense
Kohberger's public defender, Anne C Taylor, asserts his innocence, presenting an alibi indicating that he was driving outside Moscow during the night of the murders. "Mr Kohberger was out driving in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022; as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars," the filing suggests.
The filing added that the suspect often embarked on nighttime drives for activities such as hiking, running, and stargazing. "It's a weak alibi defense, but Kohberger's team needs to come up with some argument to get around the cell phone evidence," claimed trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.
Prosecutors allege that Kohberger's phone pinged near the murder scene in the days leading up to the incident. However, on the night of the killings, tracking on his phone was reportedly disabled. "The reason this is coming out now is most states require the defense to provide notice of an alibi defense. So it's required by law," Rahmani stated.
"If you don't provide the advance notice, you can't raise the defense at trial. So what I think is happening is that Kohberger's defense team, they're trying to tailor the story to the evidence. I mean, who drives by themselves in the middle of the night for no reason, or to look at the stars?" People reported.
Bryan Kohberger pinged at crime location 12 times before tragedy
Notably, investigators have linked Kohberger to the crime through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the murder scene. Furthermore, his phone records place him in the vicinity of the crime location 12 times occasions prior to the event.
"All of these occasions, except for one, occurred in the late evening and early morning hours of their respective days," read the affidavit. Rahmani, considers Kohberger's cell phone pings and DNA evidence "the two most damaging pieces of evidence for the defense."
If convicted, Kohberger faces the death penalty, a prospect supported by the parents of victim Kaylee, who seek closure amid the delays typical of such capital cases.
"Justice is when you leave the planet, and the whole world is able to rejoice and be glad that you're not there," grieving father Steve Goncalves said. "If you want to play God's role, you're going to have to go answer to him."
