SUMMARY
The death penalty will remain on the table for Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the 2022 murder of four University of Idaho students. Judge Steven Hippler ruled against Kohberger's defense team, who had argued that the death penalty was unconstitutional and violated contemporary standards of decency. Kohberger's attorneys also contested Idaho's execution methods, particularly the firing squad, but the judge found no basis to strike the death penalty. Kohberger is charged with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. He faces charges of first-degree murder and burglary, having been arrested in December 2022 after a six-week manhunt. The trial is scheduled to begin in August 2025.
