Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, the individual charged in connection with the murders of four University of Idaho students, have been granted permission to resume conducting phone surveys of potential jurors. This ruling was made by a judge despite objections raised by prosecutors, who argued that such surveys could potentially bias potential jurors.
The defense team has employed a consultant to conduct these phone surveys, which gather information about potential jurors residing near the university. The surveys inquire about their knowledge of the case, including details surrounding Kohberger’s arrest, the type of vehicle he owns, DNA evidence, and a knife sheath discovered near one of the victims. Additionally, the surveys explore whether individuals have watched true crime shows or documentaries related to the case.
Initially, prosecutors expressed concerns that some of the survey questions could introduce prejudicial information to potential jurors. However, the judge determined that most of the questions aligned with information already made public through court documents. Furthermore, the judge noted that subsequent discussions of certain topics in open court have also made them part of the public record.
The judge ruled that the defense team may continue conducting phone surveys as long as the questions do not violate the court’s existing gag order. This ruling provides the defense team with an opportunity to assess the community’s perception of the case as they prepare for trial.
Following the discovery of the four University of Idaho students’ bodies at an off-campus rental property on November 13, 2022, Bryan Kohberger, a 29-year-old graduate student at Washington State University, was apprehended at his parents’ residence in Monroe County on December 30, 2022. Prior to his arrest, Kohberger had earned an associate’s degree in psychology from Northampton Community College in 2018 and a bachelor’s degree from DeSales University in 2020, where he subsequently completed graduate studies in June 2022.
