An attorney from Idaho mentioned her belief that Judge Steven Hippler is likely to hold prosecutors and law enforcement responsible following the leak of sensitive details about the Bryan Kohberger quadruple murder case.
Airing on May 9, a TV episode highlighted the murders of four University of Idaho students and included new pieces of evidence like cellphone records, surveillance footage, and search documentation. Kohberger faces accusations of having killed Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
On the May 9 airing of NBC’s “Dateline,” new details regarding the murders emerged, such as surveillance footage from a neighboring house. This footage displayed a car resembling Kohberger’s that was seen multiple times near the King Road residence just before the tragic incident involving the four students.
The program also claimed that FBI cellphone tower data showed that Kohberger’s cellphone pinged nearly a dozen times to a tower that provides coverage to an area within 100 feet of 1122 King Road, where he allegedly killed the four students.
Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, May 22, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty Images)
Morgan said the leak might have the biggest impact if Kohberger decides to file an appeal, after a jury hands down a decision.
“Afterwards, if in fact [Kohberger] is found guilty, his attorneys are going to have a field day with stuff like this,” he said.
Bryan Kohberger looks on while in the courtroom at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (August Frank/ Lewiston Tribune)
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital he doesn’t think the leak will have much of an impact on the case.
“People should follow court orders, but this is more bluster than anything and I don’t think much will come of it. This is what happens when you have a very broad gag order and it takes 3.5 years to finally get a murder case to trial. It’s not realistic to expect evidence not being leaked to the media for years in the biggest murder trial in the country,” Rahmani said.
