MOSCOW, Idaho — Bryan Kohberger is set to be on trial for the murder of four University of Idaho students on June 2, 2025. The date was set during a scheduling hearing on Thursday morning.
After the start date was decided, the prosecution and defense talked about different deadlines that are coming up in the trial.
Judge John Judge says the trial will begin on June 2, 2025, even if the Defense's Change of Venue motion is granted. It is set to be heard on August 29, 2024.
Bryan Kohberger was arrested roughly six weeks after the bodies of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were found at a rental home near the Moscow campus Nov. 13, 2022. The students were stabbed, and investigators said they were able to link Kohberger — then a graduate student at nearby Washington State University — to the crime using DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, surveillance videos and cellphone data.
A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf in a May 2023 hearing, and for the past several months Kohberger's defense attorneys and Latah County prosecutors have been wrangling over the evidence and other data gathered throughout the investigation.
Judge John Judge said Kohberger's upcoming trial is expected to be three months long. There will be two weeks of jury selection, eight weeks of trial and two weeks of mitigation and sentencing.
The family of Kaylee Goncalves shared the following statement with KREM 2 about Thursday's decision:
"It was a good day today. We were able to get a trial date set and things appear to be moving forward. We are hopeful the trial stays in Latah County so as not to disrupt the scheduling order and we are praying for no more delays. We moved a little closer to justice today for Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan. Thank you again for all your support and prayers it means a lot to our family!"
Madison Mogen's father, Ben Mogen, released the following statement with KREM :
“My family and I are relieved that there is finally a court date set. Hopefully it will actually happen at that time. I am fine with it being in Latah.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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