Suspect in US university student killings makes 2nd court appearance

By Cindi Cook

MICHIGAN, US (AA) - The sole suspect in the US state of Idaho student killings appeared in court Thursday for a second time in Boise, in a status conference in his case.

Public defender Ann Taylor requested that the case be moved five months hence and that the judge allow four or five days for the probable cause hearing. The judge agreed and set a preliminary probable cause hearing for June 26.

Television cameras captured Bryan Kohberger entering the proceedings in an orange prison jumpsuit and foot shackles. Appearing on his face were several cuts and dried blood. One notable 2-inch (5-centimeter) cut was above his chin, others appeared on his jawline and cheek.

At the end of the proceedings, the judge told Kohberger he was to be remanded into state custody without bond. The appearance took less than five minutes.

Kohberger, 28, is currently being held on one count of burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbings of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 21, on Nov. 13, 2022. All of the victims were students at the University of Idaho.

The victims were friends who were killed while sleeping in a three-story home rented by Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle off the school’s campus in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger was taken into custody Dec. 30, 2022 at the home of his parents in the state of Pennsylvania while visiting on holiday vacation.

He was most recently enrolled in a doctoral program in criminology at the University of Washington and was serving as a teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

A weapon used in the killings has yet to be found.