Bryan Kohberger’s Defense Pushes for DNA Evidence Disclosure in Idaho Murders Case
“This matter is of utmost importance to Mr. Kohberger’s right to a public hearing,” attorney Elisa Massoth wrote in a court filing Thursday. “Holding the hearing in open court will not prejudice the parties, and this should be held in open court.”
Kohberger, who was a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Prosecutors allege that on November 13, 2022, he broke into an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, and fatally stabbed Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.
Following a six-week investigation, Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, at his family’s home in Pennsylvania. The case garnered national and international attention, with significant public interest in the methods used to identify him as a suspect.
Central to the defense’s motion is the controversial use of investigative genetic genealogy, which law enforcement employed to link Kohberger to the crime. This method involves building a “family tree” using publicly available DNA databases to identify potential suspects. Prosecutors allege that Kohberger’s DNA, found on a knife sheath at the crime scene, matched a cheek swab collected after his arrest.
Kohberger’s legal team contests the validity of the genetic genealogy process, calling it unconstitutional and claiming that the DNA evidence was “illegally gathered.” They are requesting that the court suppress this evidence, arguing it should not be presented to the jury in the death penalty trial set for August.
Massoth emphasized the importance of transparency in the case, stating, “Due to national and international attention to this case, and in the interest of protecting Mr. Kohberger’s right to a fair trial, many pleadings in this case have been sealed.” She added that both Kohberger and the public have a “right to know how genetic information was used in this case.”
Two critical hearings are scheduled in the coming days. On January 23, a pretrial hearing will address unresolved evidentiary issues, including the DNA dispute. Before that, a closed-door session will determine whether the request to disclose genetic genealogy materials will proceed.
“In addition to Mr. Kohberger’s right to a public trial, the public has a First Amendment right to know what goes on in its courts,” Massoth stated in the filing.
Prosecutors argue that the genetic genealogy process provided a significant lead in identifying Kohberger and connecting him to the crime scene. They assert that the DNA evidence, a “statistical match,” is a key component of their case.
As the legal battle over the admissibility and transparency of this evidence continues, the court’s decision could have far-reaching implications for the trial and for the use of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations.
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