Idaho prosecutors have urged a judge to deny, at least in part, Bryan Kohberger’s request to give seating priority to his family during his forthcoming trial, as some of the relatives might be called as witnesses.

Deputy Latah County Prosecutor Ashley Jennings submitted a court filing to Judge Steven Hippler, suggesting that any possible witnesses from Kohberger’s family should be barred from attending the trial until after they have testified.

“The State intends to call member(s) of the Kohberger family to testify at the trial,” Jennings stated. “Before the trial begins, it is expected that the State or the Court itself will seek to generally exclude testifying witnesses from the courtroom so they don’t hear others’ testimonies.”

University of Idaho students from left to right: Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. All four were stabbed to death in an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Jazzmin Kernodle via AP/Instagram/ @kayleegoncalves)

The defense did not object to the presence of the victim families in court, but Kohberger’s lawyers took a swipe at the Goncalves family by asking the judge to ban people from wearing clothing with the victims’ faces on it in court.

Another judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger’s behalf at his arraignment in May 2023, to four counts of first-degree murder and one of burglary.

Trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 11 in Boise after a change of venue.

Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted.