University of Idaho murder suspect back in court for death penalty arguments
Murder suspect Bryan Kohberger hopes to have the death penalty taken off the table before he goes to trial next year in the stabbing deaths of four undergrads.
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, can face the death penalty, a judge ruled Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler denied their motion in his ruling.
"The court concludes relief in defendant’s favor is not warranted on any of the motions," Hippler wrote in his 55-page order.
The prosecution noted that it intends to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.
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Bryan Kohberger, right, is escorted into a courtroom to appear at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.? (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Hippler pointed to the constitutionality of capital punishment in the U.S., pointing back to the times that the supreme courts of Idaho upheld the death penalty.
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Kohberger's defense has long-sought to remove the death penalty if the 29-year-old is convicted.
His defense attorney, Jay Logsdon, previously had argued that the death penalty goes against "contemporary standards of decency."
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Logsdon previously pointed to the 24 states that allow the death penalty, arguing that support for capital punishment was "bleak."
"In reality, less than half the states still have the death penalty pursuant to legislative or executive actions," he wrote. "Taking population of those states into account, support for the death penalty is even bleaker."
The four victims in the University of Idaho slayings Nov. 13, 2022. (Instagram/@kayleegoncalves)
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Kohberger is accused of the Nov. 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students at a house near the college campus in Moscow.
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, in connection with the fatal stabbing of four University of Idaho students – Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
People lay flowers and pay respect a the University of Idaho on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Four students were murdered in Moscow, Idaho over the weekend. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
In a statement, Goncalves' family said that they were "overjoyed" to hear about Kohberger potentially receiving capital punishment.
"This journey for justice for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan is filled with highs and lows. Some days you are hopeful that justice will be served and other days you are filled with hopelessness and sadness. Today is a day for hope!" the family said. "The last 2 years in front of Judge have been filled with frustration and disappointment. (From not pronouncing the victim's names correctly, laughing in the courtroom to entertaining every ridiculous motion or argument the Defense could muster.) That has been our last 2 years, and now we are hopeful again."
"We finally have a judge who we believe is prepared, thoughtful and understands the process. There is a level of seriousness that has not been present for a long time. So today, when we heard of the motions being denied in regard to the Death Penalty, we were overjoyed," they added.
"For our family, for our friends, for our supporters, for everyone who has shed a tear, made a donation or listened to the story of the children that were murdered, Justice is moving forward and one day in the not so distant future, hopefully it will be served," they said. "Thank you again to everyone for all your support and prayers and especially to the people of Boise who have welcomed us with open arms!"
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He is eligible for the death penalty in Idaho only with a conviction of first-degree murder or conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
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