Kohberger Trial Set as Death Penalty Debated

Bryan Kohberger, accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is facing a hearing to determine if the death penalty should be pursued by prosecutors. The defense argues that the insistence on capital punishment violates Kohberger's rights and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, as Idaho allows execution by firing squad if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. Prosecutors have cited four aggravating factors to justify the death penalty, including the heinous nature of the crimes and Kohberger's potential future danger to society. Kohberger's defense plans to call expert witnesses and has requested a special phase to assess capital punishment eligibility if he is found guilty. The trial is set to commence on August 7, 2025, after a successful change of venue from Latah County to Boise due to concerns over a fair jury.