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Lawyers For University Of Idaho Quadruple Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Suggest He Has Alibi
“Evidence corroborating Mr. Kohberger being at a location other than the King Road address will be disclosed pursuant to discovery and evidentiary rules as well as statutory requirements,” Bryan Kohberger’s legal team wrote in newly filed court documents.
Bryan Kohberger’s lawyers may argue he wasn’t present at the crime scene when four University of Idaho students were murdered last year at an off-campus residence, according to new court filings.
Kohberger’s lawyers, in court documents filed Tuesday, appeared to indicate they intend to present evidence proving their client has a viable alibi defense in the November 2022 slayings of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
“Evidence corroborating Mr. Kohberger being at a location other than the King Road address will be disclosed pursuant to discovery and evidentiary rules as well as statutory requirements,” lawyer Anne Taylor stated in the newly filed court documents, according to CNN.
Kohberger’s lawyers declined, however, to disclose specific details of the pretrial alibi in accordance with Latah County prosecutors’ previous demands. Tuesday’s deadline-day filings didn’t expand on what specific corroborating evidence they had or release further details regarding the exact whereabouts of the accused criminal justice graduate student.
“A defendant’s denial of the charges against him does not constitute an alibi, but as soon as he offers evidence that he was at some place other than where the crime of which he is charged was committed, he is raising the alibi defense,” the court documents added. “It is anticipated this evidence may be offered by way of cross-examination of witnesses produced by the State as well as calling expert witnesses.”
Kohberger has pleaded not guilty to the quadruple murders. His lawyers reiterated Kohberger’s right to remain silent as well as the possibility he could take the stand in his own defense at trial. Taylor added that Kohberger’s defense team “continues investigating and preparing his case,” The Idaho Statesman reported.
Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle, and Chapin were found stabbed to death in the beds of their off-campus home in Moscow on November 13, 2022. Each victim suffered multiple stab wounds from a “pretty large knife,” the case’s coroner later stated.
Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania at his family’s home on December 30.
Kohberger didn’t know the four victims, officials said. The 28-year-old was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University at the time of the grisly murders.
The knife used in the series of killings hasn’t been recovered, however, authorities say DNA matching Kohberger was found on the suspected murder weapon’s sheath.
Notably, Kohberger’s defense team also questioned the credibility of the DNA evidence in question in separate recently filed court documents, arguing investigators surreptitiously planted it.
“What the State’s argument asks this Court and Mr. Kohberger to assume is that the DNA on the sheath was placed there by Mr. Kohberger, and not someone else during an investigation that spans hundreds of members of law enforcement and apparently at least one lab the State refuses to name,” Kohberger’s legal team stated in court filings last month.
Earlier this month, a judge granted a 37-day stay of Kohberger’s trial. He previously waived his right to a speedy trial.
“lf [the] defendant wishes to explore the theory that his DNA was planted on the Ka-Bar knife sheath, he is free to do so,” Latah County prosecutors said in a July 14 court filing responding to Kohberger’s lawyers.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Kohberger.
