Kohberger judge cracks down on investigation leaks after ‘Dateline’ episode

Keith Morrison, left, discusses a ‘Dateline’ episode about Bryan Kohberger, right, with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton. The episode aired May 9. BOISE (Lewiston Tribune) — The judge in the Bryan Kohberger case is cracking down on leaks about the Moscow murder investigation after a “Dateline” episode on the Nov. 13, 2022, killings premiered last week. The NBC reporters for the “Dateline” episode, titled “The Terrible Night on King Road,” relied on information from anonymous sources connected to the case. The episode detailed, among other information, Kohberger’s alleged cellphone activity, including internet searches of Ted Bundy, porn and the Moscow murder investigation. The episode also shared gruesome details about the crime scene and surveillance video of what appears to be the suspect’s vehicle near the King Road crime scene. RELATED | Keith Morrison reveals new insights, unseen video in Kohberger case to be featured on ‘Dateline’ Friday Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. In a court document filed Thursday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler wrote that it appears someone violated the court’s non-dissemination order, which prohibits people involved in the case from talking publicly about it outside the courtroom. Hippler said these violations potentially violate Kohberger’s right to a fair trial, and could prolong the case. “Accordingly, the Court finds it is imperative to attempt to see that the source of such leak is identified and held to account, and that doing so is the best deterrent to future violations,” Hippler wrote. He ordered that anyone involved in the case are prohibited from deleting or destroying any evidence related to the case or related communications they’ve had with someone outside the investigation. The prosecution and Kohberger’s attorneys have seven days to submit a list of all people in their teams who have had access to any facts related to the murder investigation. The prosecution must also write up a plan to prevent future violations of the gag order. Also on Thursday, Hippler set a deadline for the defense to provide “alternative perpetrator” evidence and went over the rules of the upcoming trial. On June 18, a hearing will be held to discuss the defendant’s evidence that alternative perpetrators were responsible for the quadruple murders. Hippler warned attorney Anne Taylor and her defense team that they need to provide him specific evidence, and reasons why it is admissible. They cannot just offer allegations, he said. Hippler said that what they have offered him so far is “fairly objectionable” in terms of admissibility. The trial begins Aug. 11 with jury selection to commence July 30. When the trial begins, the daily hearings will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The trial will go on break during holidays and Oct. 2-3 because Hippler has a prior engagement. Seating for the high-profile trial will be at a premium. Seats will be reserved for victims’ families, the victims’ surviving roommates and members of Kohberger’s family. The trial will be livestreamed online, but the defense and prosecution said some witnesses may be reluctant to testify if their face is shown on camera, including the victims’ surviving roommates. Hippler agreed that there is compelling interest to not show the roommates on camera, but said he will have to be convinced to do the same for other witnesses. The plan for the jury selection process is to narrow the pool down to 50 or 55. From there, the court will select 12 jurors and eight alternates. The prosecution and defense have written their proposed jury questionnaires for the juror selection process. Those have been sealed by the court. Most of the jury selection process will not be public. Kohberger was in Ada County District Court on Thursday for a pretrial conference in front of Hippler, who urged the attorneys to avoid any communication with the jurors outside the courtroom. Kohberger still has a chance to take a plea deal this summer if he accepts the prosecution’s “last best offer,” Hippler said. If there is a guilty verdict at the end of the trial, the penalty phase would begin immediately. The jury could sentence Kohberger to either life without parole or the death penalty if found guilty of the murder charges. Much of Hippler’s instructions to the attorneys revolve around making sure the trial moves as efficiently as possible. The judge asked them to let him know ahead of time of any evidentiary issues or objections they want to bring up. He also cautioned the attorneys to remain professional with each other and to not levy accusations against the other side without evidence.The post Kohberger judge cracks down on investigation leaks after ‘Dateline’ episode appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com