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Kohberger's trial on four counts of murder and one count of
burglary is on track to begin Aug. 11 in Boise, Idaho, after a
judge declined his lawyer's request for a delay last week.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Monday's hearing in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, concerns requests
by Kohberger's lawyers that a Monroe County judge order seven
people to testify, although it's not clear how the potential
witnesses fit into the case. One of the seven agreed to cancel
her hearing, and an order was issued last week summoning her for
trial.
News organizations have reported that the group includes school
employees, a jail guard, a boxing gym owner and an auto shop
worker. Phone messages seeking comment were left for several of
them last week.
The 30-year-old Kohberger, who was arrested at his parents' home
in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, weeks after the November 2022
killings, is accused of sneaking into a rental home in Moscow,
Idaho, not far from the University of Idaho campus, and
attacking Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee
Goncalves.
The slayings shocked the rural Idaho community and neighboring
Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger was a graduate student
studying criminology at Washington State University.
In a court filing, his lawyers said Kohberger was on a long
drive by himself around the time the four were killed.
Kohberger was silent during his arraignment, prompting a judge
to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.
A gag order has largely kept attorneys, investigators and others
from speaking publicly about the investigation or trial. A
person answering the phone last week at the office of his
lawyer, Anne Taylor, said the defense team had no comment about
the Monday hearing or the case.
Another one of the seven potential witnesses has told lawyers
she is traveling and unavailable Monday, so a hearing on whether
to compel her testimony was rescheduled for July 7.
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