The judge presiding over the Bryan Kohberger case, involving the alleged killing of four University of Idaho students in 2022, delivered a set of rulings on Thursday in response to various motions. One of the motions requested the exclusion of the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted due to his recent diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Judge Steven Hippler denied the defense’s motion to eliminate the death penalty, stating that the defense team did not demonstrate that ASD is comparable to an intellectual disability qualifying for exemption from the death penalty. Additionally, Judge Hippler pointed out that there is no demonstrated national consensus opposing the application of capital punishment to individuals with ASD.
042425+Order+on+Defendants+Motion+to+Strike+Death+Penalty+RE+Autism+Spectrum+Disorder by kc wildmoon on Scribd
According to Hippler, while ASD could serve as a mitigating factor to consider alongside aggravating factors in determining the appropriateness of the death penalty for the defendant, it does not automatically disqualify him from receiving the death penalty.
Prosecutors had argued that Kohberger’s diagnosis of mild autism was “without accompanying intellectual … impairment.”
Kohberger was a graduate student in criminal justice at Washington State University, about 10 miles from the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho, at the time of the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves on November 13, 2022. He was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania about six weeks later after investigators said they had matched his DNA to a sample found on a knife sheath left at the crime scene.
Read more from CrimeOnline about the University of Idaho murders.
Hearing on the motions at issue in Thursday’s rulings were held earlier this month. Hippler also responded to a defense motion to limit or exclude testimony from a number of expert witnesses on the prosecution’s list. In detail, he denied the motion.
Another motion sought to limit or exclude text messages between the surviving roommates on the morning of the murders as well as the 911. call made when they discovered the bodies. Hippler ruled that some of the hearsay statements from the 911 call must be redacted but that most of the information in the texts and 911 is “likely admissible provided that the requisite foundation is laid at trial.”
Kohberger’s trial is set to begin in August, with jury selection to start in late July.
