A judge has ruled that Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, could face the death penalty if he is convicted.
Kohberger’s defense team had asked the judge to take the death penalty off the table, arguing that it’s cruel to make inmates wait for years on death row, and that the execution methods in Idaho are inhumane. They also claimed that the state’s death penalty laws go against an international treaty against torture. However, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler denied these arguments in a ruling on Tuesday. The prosecution has said they will pursue the death penalty if Kohberger is found guilty.
Kohberger is accused of killing Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022. The four students were stabbed to death in a house near the University of Idaho campus. Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022, and brought back to Idaho in January 2023. He faces four counts of first-degree murder.
When Kohberger was asked to enter a plea last year, he stayed silent, so the judge entered a not guilty plea for him. His trial is set to begin in August 2025.
Kaylee Goncalves’ family shared their relief over the judge’s decision, calling it a positive step forward. They also criticized the judge who previously handled the case, saying he failed to properly pronounce the victims’ names, laughed in court, and allowed the defense to make silly arguments. They expressed hope that the new judge would bring a more serious and thoughtful approach to the case, and they’re optimistic that justice will eventually be served.
