Idaho Murders Suspect Bryan Kohberger Dealt Major Blow As Judge Blocks 'Alternate' Suspects List
By Favour Adegoke on June 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM EDT
Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger has been dealt a heavy blow ahead of his murder trial in August.
According to reports, his defense team had filed a motion asking the court to allow them to present evidence of "alternate" suspects during the trial, but the presiding judge blocked the move.
The judge in Bryan Kohberger's case also labeled the "alternate" suspect theory as "wild speculation" and "entirely irrelevant" to the murder case.
Judge Says There Is No Evidence Connecting Other Suspects To The Crime Scene
Bryan Kohberger and his legal team have been left grasping at straws after a judge in his murder case threw out their "alternate" suspect theory.
The 30-year-old is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2022 at an off-campus rental home.
His legal team had tried to convince the judge to allow them to present evidence to the jury suggesting that four other suspects could have been responsible for the murders of the Idaho students Kohberger is accused of killing.
However, legal documents have emerged showing that Judge Steven J. Hipler ruled against the motion and dismissed the evidence they hoped to present, deeming it "wild speculation" and "entirely irrelevant."
According to TMZ, the same documents revealed that the judge concluded there was no evidence linking the alleged "alternate" suspects to the crime scene.
With the ruling now blocking Kohberger and his legal team from pursuing that strategy, the identities of the alleged suspects are expected to remain unknown.
Bryan Kohberger's Defense Tried To Postpone The Trial Again
Kohberger's legal team also failed in their attempt to get the trial postponed to a later date.
According to the Associated Press, defense attorney Anne Taylor had argued that beginning the trial at this time would violate Kohberger's right to a trial free of bias.
As part of her reasons, she claimed the defense was still reviewing evidence and having difficulty securing cooperation from potential witnesses.
Taylor also contended that public interest in the case had not yet subsided, and proceeding too soon could also taint the trial for Kohberger.
Judge Hipler Slammed The Alleged Killer's Request For A Delay
Judge Hipler countered Kohberger's team's claim that public interest in the case had only grown despite previous delays.
He also argued that these delays had given the media more time to "provide coverage to a public audience which is clamoring for answers."
"The longer the public is made to sit and wait for the facts to come out at trial, the more time there is for inflammatory, speculative stories, movies and books to circulate and more time for prior ones to be rebroadcast, purchased, viewed and consumed by the public," he noted.
Changes Have Been Made To The Trial Schedule
Due to an internal scheduling adjustment by the court, changes have been made to the scheduling order for Kohberger's case.
Now, according to Fox News, the sealed proceeding between the court and lawyers is scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 1.
Three days later, jury voir dire, also known as the jury selection process, will begin and continue until a final selection is made. It was previously expected to start on July 30, before the change.
Meanwhile, on August 18, the trial itself is expected to begin with opening statements from both the defense and the prosecution.
It is expected to last approximately three months, including the time for the verdict, sentencing, and any other relevant processes associated with the trial.
Prosecutors Intend To Ask For The Death Penalty If Bryan Kohberger Is Found Guilty
Ahead of his trial, a judge entered pleas of not guilty on Kohberger's behalf when he remained silent during his plea hearing.
If he is eventually found guilty of the four charges of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, he could face the death penalty, as prosecutors have made their intention to seek it clear. A judge has also greenlit this move, should they ultimately proceed with it.
This comes after Kohberger's attorney tried to argue against the death penalty based on the alleged Idaho killer's autism claims.
Kohberger "displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piecemeal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions," they said in a motion, per E! News.
"Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy," the motion said. "This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability."
