As Idaho college murders trial draws closer, lawyers spar at evidentiary hearing

With the trial against the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students four months away, a judge is set to hear arguments Wednesday over key court motions that will shape the proceedings and potentially take the death penalty off the table.

BOISE, Idaho — The judge overseeing the trial of the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students agreed Wednesday that the terms "sociopath" and "psychopath" should not be used to describe him in court but declined to agree with his defense to bar the use of the word "murderer."

"These murders, whoever committed them, were brutal and horrific," Ada County Judge Steven Hippler said. "And I suspect the evidence will reflect that."

The argument over the use of "inflammatory" evidence and words that might prejudice the jury at Bryan Kohberger's trial kicked off a motions hearing that will shape the proceedings and, if they are successful for his defense, remove the death penalty as punishment. The trial is expected to begin in August.

Prosecutors and the defense team for Kohberger, 30, have clashed in court filings over what should be admissible, sharing new information that has filled in some gaps since the killings in late 2022 stunned the college town of Moscow. A sweeping gag order in the wake of the students' deaths has prevented many attached to the case from speaking publicly.

Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing housemates Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; and Xana Kernodle, 20; as well as Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, with a large fixed-blade knife at an off-campus home on Nov. 13, 2022.