Kohberger defense team contests evidence

As ongoing pretrial proceedings continue, Bryan Kohberger’s defense team has requested the judge throw out key evidence.  

Kohberger’s defense team wants 13 pieces of evidence suppressed, saying police illegally obtained them through the course of the investigation. The evidence came from searches of his Pullman apartment as well as his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, according to the Idaho Statesman.  

Anne Taylor, the lead defense attorney for Kohberger, argued the police in Pennsylvania illegally obtained DNA evidence from Kohberger’s parents. The DNA evidence taken from his father was connected to DNA in the knife sheath found at the crime scene.  

Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home on December 30, 2022. Taylor also argued that the police didn’t read Kohberger his rights and held his family at gunpoint during the arrest.  

Kohberger made incriminating statements to the police while being transported to the police station and during interrogations prior to asking for a lawyer. His lawyers asked for these statements to be thrown out as well.  

Kohberger wants his cell phone records and cell tower tracking to be thrown out as well as any evidence found in his car.  

Nov. 13 marked two years since the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogel, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus house. With Kohberger’s trial set for August 2025 in Ada County, the defense team was working to remove the death penalty. Judge Stephen Hippler announced Tuesday that, if convicted, Kohberger may face the death penalty if the prosecution demands it.  

Hippler has yet to make his decision about these key pieces of evidence and whether they will be permitted in trial.  

Allyssa Dotson can be reached at [email protected]