Pennsylvania judge considers if witnesses must testify in trial over Idaho students’ stabbings

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"Hearing in Pennsylvania to Determine Witness Testimony in Kohberger Trial for Idaho Stabbings"

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Original Article Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/30/us/idaho-student-killings-kohberger-pennsylvania-witnesses-hnk
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In a pivotal hearing set for Monday in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, several potential defense witnesses are expected to testify regarding their relevance to Bryan Kohberger’s upcoming trial for the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. Kohberger, a former criminal justice student, faces four counts of murder and one count of burglary, with his trial scheduled to commence on August 11 in Boise, Idaho. Despite a request from Kohberger's defense team for a delay, the presiding judge denied the motion, allowing the trial to proceed as planned. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, adding further gravity to the proceedings. The hearing will explore whether seven individuals, including school employees, a jail guard, a boxing gym owner, and an auto shop worker, will be compelled to testify. The connection of these witnesses to the case remains unclear, though their testimonies could potentially impact the trial's outcome. One of the witnesses has already opted to cancel her hearing, while another has indicated her unavailability due to travel commitments, leading to a rescheduling of her testimony for July 7.

Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania several weeks after the tragic November 2022 stabbings, which sent shockwaves through both the Idaho community and nearby Pullman, Washington, where he was a graduate student at Washington State University. The alleged crime involved Kohberger sneaking into a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, where he fatally attacked four students: Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. During his arraignment, Kohberger remained silent, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. A gag order has been imposed, restricting communication about the case among attorneys and investigators, which has limited public discourse surrounding the trial. As the date for the trial approaches, the legal strategies and witness testimonies are becoming increasingly critical in shaping the narrative of this high-profile case.

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Source URL: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/30/us/idaho-student-killings-kohberger-pennsylvania-witnesses-hnk

Several potential defense witnesses fromBryan Kohberger‘s home state of Pennsylvania are expected in court Monday for a hearing on whether they must testify at the former criminal justice student’s trial for thestabbing deaths of four college studentsin Idaho.

Kohberger’s trial on four counts of murder and one count of burglary is on track to begin Aug. 11 in Boise, Idaho, after a judge declined his lawyer’srequest for a delaylast week.

Prosecutors are seeking thedeath penalty.

Monday’s hearing in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, concerns requests by Kohberger’s lawyers that a Monroe County judge order seven people to testify, although it’s not clear how the potential witnesses fit into the case. One of the seven agreed to cancel her hearing, and an order was issued last week summoning her for trial.

News organizations have reported that the group includes school employees, a jail guard, a boxing gym owner and an auto shop worker. Phone messages seeking comment were left for several of them last week.

The 30-year-old Kohberger,who was arrestedat his parents’ home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, weeks after the November 2022 killings, is accused of sneaking into a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, not far from the University of Idaho campus, and attacking Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

The slayings shocked the rural Idaho community and neighboring Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was agraduate student studying criminologyat Washington State University.

In a court filing, his lawyers said Kohberger was on along drive by himselfaround the time the four were killed.

Kohberger wassilent during his arraignment, prompting a judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Agag orderhas largely kept attorneys, investigators and others from speaking publicly about the investigation or trial. A person answering the phone last week at the office of his lawyer, Anne Taylor, said the defense team had no comment about the Monday hearing or the case.

Another one of the seven potential witnesses has told lawyers she is traveling and unavailable Monday, so a hearing on whether to compel her testimony was rescheduled for July 7.

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Source: CNN