LATAH COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho could soon see a high-profile murder trial, but not until 2025.
Bryan Kohberger was back in a Latah County courtroom Thursday, June 27 for a brief hearing where a timeline for his upcoming trial was discussed.
Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington, faces four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in November 2022.
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At the hearing, attorneys for both the prosecution and defense agreed to work toward a June 2025 trial.
The Judge estimates that Kohberger's upcoming trial could take up to 3 months.
Idaho Judge John Judge said he wants to set aside two weeks for jury selection, two months for the trial and two weeks at the end for sentencing and other matters if Kohberger is convicted.
“I think already we’re about 13 months from the arraignment, and I think at this point ... we’re getting to a point of diminishing returns,” Judge said after he sent a proposed schedule to attorneys last Friday.
Lawyers for both sides generally agreed with the schedule.
Thursday's hearing was initially expected to cover the change of venue motion filed by Kohberger's defense as well, but in paperwork filed by the defense ahead of the hearing it was requested that discussion be pushed back to August 29.
Judge John Judge has not decided on a final date for that change of venue motion to be heard.
Investigators said they linked Kohberger to the crime using DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, surveillance videos and cellphone data.
Kohberger’s defense lawyers have said in court documents that he was out driving alone the night of the killings, something he did often. They also intend to call a witness in cellphone and cell tower data to show that the night of the deaths, he did not travel east of the main road connecting Pullman and Moscow.
Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.
Members of Goncalves' family were present in the courtroom at Thursday's hearing. In a statement to ABC News, the family called it a good day, saying, "We were able to get a trial date set and things appear to be moving forward. We are hopeful the trial stays in Latah County so as not to disrupt the scheduling order and we are praying for no more delays. We moved a little closer to justice today for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan."
