Victims' families say 'stop playing the delay game' as Bryan Kohberger trial pushed to 2025

The parents of four Idaho students who were brutally murdered in 2022 are furious that Bryan Kohberger's trial has been delayed until 2025.

The only surviving witness that night came face to face with a masked intruder after the four undergraduates were stabbed in Moscow, Idaho. The families are concerned that the housemate's memory of that night's traumatic event may be questioned after years of delays in the case.

“In the meantime, suspect Bryan Kohberger's defense he has bought more time to create an alibi and analyze large amounts of other evidence. Latah County District Judge John Judge is still weighing scheduling and a defense motion to move the trial to another county. And the families of the victims are still waiting for justice to be done.” Fox News reported

“I'm listening carefully to both sides and it's a complicated case,” the judge said during a hearing Wednesday. “It's a death penalty case.”

(Video credit: KREM 2 News)

following the arrest of Kohberger in December 2022, his trial was scheduled for October 2023. Criminology Ph.D. the student used his knowledge. He waived his right to a speedy trial so he could be dragged. Prosecutors are seeking a trial date of June this year, but Kohberger's lawyers want it pushed back to the summer of 2025 to ostensibly give them more time to prepare.

“The families of two victims, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20, said in a joint statement that regardless of when the case goes to trial, everything will be scrutinized, whether on appeal or by court. public,” Fox News noted.

“We want to start healing, we do, we want to find justice and try to get out of this horrible tragedy, so please, please, start making some decisions, get to work and stop playing delay game,” the families asked. through his attorney Shanon Gray on Friday.

“This illusion by everyone involved that they can control what happens is frustrating,” the families said. “A jury will hear the evidence and return a verdict. But we have to get there sooner rather than later.”

Statement by the families of Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodles.
They are frustrated that a trial date has not been set for Bryan Kohberger.
“We want to start healing, we do, we want to find justice and try to get out of this horrible tragedy…” pic.twitter.com/t1hXdAXpUc

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) March 1, 2024

Delaying a trial is a classic ploy by lawyers to buy time to discredit witnesses or bolster an alibi. It is intended to have a negative impact on a case in favor of the accused.

“Witnesses forget events or even die, depending on the time between the charges … and the trial,” Michigan attorney James Scozzari told Fox News Digital. “The defendant essentially loses their ability to consult with potential defense witnesses, or even track their whereabouts. It is difficult to present a defense in these situations. In addition, evidence is lost or destroyed.” .

The extended calendar will be prove guilt that's much more difficult in court, and some point out that's probably what Kohberger's lawyers are counting on.

“Delays are bad for the prosecution,” said Neama Rahmani, a former assistant U.S. attorney. “Witnesses' memories fade and evidence can disappear over time, and victims' families deserve justice.”

Another Kohberger hearing with little progress No trial date has been set. No change of venue determination. The next hearing will be on May 14, 2024 at 1:30 p.m., which will be a change of venue hearing. And then there's an alibi deadline set for April 17, 2024.

Thinking of… pic.twitter.com/4HqIiQtujI

— Gisela K (@truecrimegisela) February 28, 2024

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was blunt, saying delaying the trial is part of the defense's plan.

“It lingers until everyone forgets or dies,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview. “I have concerns about the case, delays are not one of them.”

His main concern has to do with the physical evidence related to the case.

“I have two big ones,” Giacalone commented. “How the crime scene was handled and what, if anything, was found in his vehicle. There's no way you can pull off a vicious scene like this without transferring blood to the snow and his vehicle.”

He's had questions about the crime scene from the beginning.

A trial date has not been set #BryanKohberger in the #IdahoStudentMurders Box.

The judge declined to set a trial date for Bryan Kohberger, saying he wants to have a hearing on a change of venue first.#CourtTV – #Idaho4 pic.twitter.com/mFoFBb1FO2

— Court TV (@CourtTV) February 28, 2024

“Did the doorman keep a record of who entered the crime scene, what time, what they did, and what time they left?” he asked. “Many videos where the policeman never gets out of the car. Was there a sign-in sheet inside? Who supervised its use?”

“He criticized the decision to return the victims' belongings to relatives while police were still monitoring the scene. And he highlighted the initial decision to bring in a cleaning crew to clear the house, which was canceled the day before for a suspect to be arrested and for defense investigators to arrive,” Fox News said of Giacalone's concerns.

“Genetic genealogy and trash collected from Kohberger's family home in Pennsylvania, as well as the use and surveillance of his cell phone, link him to the crime scene, authorities said.” NBC news reported

The murder weapon, a large fixed blade knife, not recovered, according to Moscow police. Kohberger, 29, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with the deaths of Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

NBC News reports that the trial is expected to last about six weeks when it takes place.

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is a constitutional conservative who researches and writes extensively on politics and current affairs.

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