Kohberger judge cracks down on investigation leaks
May 16—The judge in the Bryan Kohberger case is cracking down on leaks about the Moscow murder investigation after a "Dateline" episode on the Nov. 13, 2022, killings premiered last week.
The NBC reporters for the "Dateline" episode, titled "The Terrible Night on King Road," relied on information from anonymous sources connected to the case.
The episode detailed, among other information, Kohberger's alleged cellphone activity, including internet searches of Ted Bundy, porn and the Moscow murder investigation. The episode also shared gruesome details about the crime scene and surveillance video of what appears to be the suspect's vehicle near the King Road crime scene.
Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
In a court document filed Thursday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler wrote that it appears someone violated the court's non-dissemination order, which prohibits people involved in the case from talking publicly about it outside the courtroom.
Hippler said these violations potentially violate Kohberger's right to a fair trial, and could prolong the case.
"Accordingly, the Court finds it is imperative to attempt to see that the source of such leak is identified and held to account, and that doing so is the best deterrent to future violations," Hippler wrote.
He ordered that anyone involved in the case are prohibited from deleting or destroying any evidence related to the case or related communications they've had with someone outside the investigation.
The prosecution and Kohberger's attorneys have seven days to submit a list of all people in their teams who have had access to any facts related to the murder investigation.
The prosecution must also write up a plan to prevent future violations of the gag order.
Also on Thursday, Hippler set a deadline for the defense to provide "alternative perpetrator" evidence, and went over the rules of the upcoming trial.
On June 18, a hearing will be held to discuss the defendant's evidence that alternative perpetrators were responsible for the quadruple murders.
Hippler warned attorney Anne Taylor and her defense team that they need to provide him specific evidence, and reasons why it is admissible. They cannot just offer allegations, he said.
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