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Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the University of Idaho murders. Kohberger is accused of stabbing to death four college students in an off-campus house on Nov. 13, 2022: Kaylee Goncalves; her lifelong best friend and roommate Madison Mogen; a third roommate, Xana Kernodle; and Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin.
According to a new court filing, “The State gives this notice based on the fact that it has not identified or been provided with any mitigating circumstances sufficient to prohibit the triers of fact from considering all penalties authorized by the Idaho legislature including the possibility of a capital sentence. Consequently, considering all evidence currently known to the State, the State is compelled to file this notice of intent to seek the death penalty.”
After a six-week search for a suspect, 28-year-old Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022. Kohberger was a Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University at the time of the murders. Kohberger chose to “stand silent” at his arraignment last month; by not responding, the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. His trial is set for Oct. 2.
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