During suspected University of Idaho quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger's first appearance in a Boise courtroom Thursday, the defense revealed they've suffered a major setback as they prepare to go to trial.
"We had an expert that we were working with, and that expert passed away," defense attorney Anne Taylor told Ada County Judge Steven Hippler during the hearing, as she hinted toward moving the trial further away from its anticipated June 2025 start date.
"We have been able to refill that role, to have a new expert to do the work that that expert was hired to do, but we are not progressed to the point that I'd hoped to be, through no fault of the new expert."
Taylor declined to go into specifics regarding the type of expert, only describing them as a "very necessary expert for us to have on board."
She agreed to an ex-parte hearing with Judge Hippler following the court's adjournment, after he also suggested either moving the trial's start date to either May or September, citing his concern over potential jurors' summer plans.
Earlier this month, Judge John Judge sided with the defense when he granted their motion for a change of venue over fears Kohberger would be denied a fair trial in Latah County.
Kohberger allegedly stabbed University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, to death in their off-campus apartment in November 2022.
Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle were roommates at the Moscow, Idaho residence, and Chapin – Kernodle's boyfriend – was spending the night, when they were slaughtered in their sleep, authorities determined.
Kohberger was arrested for the murders six weeks later, after DNA evidence, surveillance video and cell phone records allegedly tied him to the scene of the crime.
He was taken into custody while visiting his parents in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30, 2022.
Kohberger pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in the college students' slayings.
A motive remains under investigation.
