Idaho College Murders: Judge Makes Decision in Request to Pause Bryan Kohberger Trial

A motion seeking to pause the case against Idaho college murders suspect Bryan Kohberger due to claims made by his defense attorney regarding the grand jury process has been denied, according to authorities.

Court documents state Judge John Judge rescinded a prior order that had extended the speedy trial clock by 37 days. However, this decision is now irrelevant since Kohberger voluntarily relinquished his right to a speedy trial in August.

In November 2022, Kohberger, 28, was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University when police believe he broke into a home in Moscow, Idaho, and fatally stabbed four students — Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20.

Kohberger was eventually identified as a suspect and charged with four counts of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Since then, his attorney Anne Taylor has filed multiple motions challenging parts of the murder case, including the issue involving the grand jury.

“As articulated on the record, the issues raised in Kohberger’s Second Motion to Stay Proceedings do not constitute a substantial failure to comply with the procedures for selecting a grand jury,” the judge wrote in his most recent order. “The issues raised either fall outside the purview of Idaho Code Title 2, Chapter 2, jury selection and service, or are typical problems seen routinely in selecting juries (i.e., individuals called for jury duty failing to appear thereby reducing the number of potential jurors in the jury pool).”

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Kohberger's trial was set to begin earlier this month, but the proceedings were delayed indefinitely when the defendant waived his right to a speedy trial.

The next hearing — the defense’s motion to dismiss the grand jury indictment — is scheduled for Oct. 26 and will be closed to the general public.

If convicted of the charges against him, Kohberger, who is being held without bail, could potentially be sentenced to death.