Bryan Kohberger set for last court date before Idaho student murder trial

After the latest wave of new details and court rulings in the University of Idaho student homicides case, defendant Bryan Kohberger is set to be in court Thursday in Boise for his last scheduled appearance before this summer’s highly anticipated murder trial.

Among the items expected to be taken up at the hearing is the state’s effort to admit a variety of records that police obtained, including through dozens of search warrants during the expansive, multistate investigation. Some of those records for Kohberger and the four victims entail purchase histories and phone logs, a term paper Kohberger wrote concerning crime scenes and surveillance camera footage from near the crime scene in Moscow and businesses around Pullman, Wash., where Kohberger lived.

In addition, some discussion at the final pretrial hearing may revolve around the defense’s and prosecution’s specific pieces of evidence intended for trial. A joint log of the case’s final proposed exhibits, including those where either side objects, is due to the court no later than Wednesday. 

“This is a standard hearing where it’s really just sorting out the last issues before trial,” Nate Poppino, spokesperson for the state courts, told the Idaho Statesman. 

Final lists of expert rebuttal witnesses for the sentencing phase of the case, should Kohberger be found guilty, also remain outstanding. Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler, who presides over the case, granted a deadline extension of three weeks to prosecutors, plus time to respond for the defense. The decision is tied to prosecutors conducting an independent mental health examination that they’re allowed on Kohberger by the end of this week. 

Possibly left for the hearing as well are the language and parameters to be included in questionnaires that will be sent to prospective jurors around Ada County, and the instructions that will be issued to the eventual group of 12 and alternates who are chosen to make up the jury. So far, Hippler has kept all of the jury questionnaire and instruction filings under seal, outside the public’s view. 

The jury selection process is scheduled to begin in late July, with trial slated to start by the second week in August. Hippler has scheduled Kohberger’s trial to extend into November if sentencing is required.

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This story was originally posted by the Idaho Statesman. To read more, click here.