Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has responded to a motion filed by Bryan Kohberger’s attorney, Anne Taylor, seeking a delay in Kohberger’s upcoming trial. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary connected to the November 2022 stabbings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

The motion was submitted by Kohberger’s defense team on May 20, citing insufficient time to prepare for both the trial and the penalty phase. Taylor specifically pointed to media coverage, including a recent episode of “NBC Dateline” about the Moscow murders and an upcoming book on the case, which she claims could influence the jury’s impartiality.

The defense asserts they possess evidence implicating other potential perpetrators in the murders, which has been filed but is sealed in Ada County District Court.

In his response on June 5, Prosecutor Bill Thompson contended that the defense’s motion overlooks Idaho Supreme Court precedents regarding death penalty cases, which state that attorneys are not obligated to investigate every aspect of a defendant’s life before trial.

Thompson also argued that the defense has not demonstrated that the media coverage would hinder the selection of an unbiased jury, suggesting that proceeding with the trial as scheduled might mitigate any adverse effects from ongoing publicity. Furthermore, he noted that delaying the trial could infringe upon the victims’ rights to a timely resolution as outlined in the Idaho Constitution, considering nearly two and a half years have passed since Kohberger’s arrest.

Kohberger’s trial is scheduled to begin in August, with the possibility of a death penalty sentence if he is convicted.