Idaho judge slams Bryan Kohberger's 'hollow' attempt to dodge death penalty in latest blow to defense

A justice successful Idaho denied a question from Bryan Kohberger's defence squad asking to region the decease punishment arsenic a imaginable punishment if he's recovered guilty.

Kohberger is charged with first-degree execution successful the deaths of 4 students astatine the University of Idaho, including Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; and Ethan Chapin, 20. The erstwhile pupil astatine the University of Washington was besides charged with 1 felony number of burglary.

During a proceeding connected April 9, Kohberger's defence squad presented the question to onslaught the decease penalty, arguing that find produced by prosecutors has been some voluminous and unorganized. Kohberger argued this meant helium was incapable to meaningfully reappraisal and analyse the grounds successful mentation for trial, which is presently scheduled to statesman successful August.

Judge Steven Hippler wrote successful his bid connected Tuesday that Kohberger's complaints astir the magnitude of find produced "ring hollow."

JUDGE RULES DEATH PENALTY TO REMAIN AS POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT AMID BRYAN KOHBERGER AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment proceeding successful Latah County District Court, May 22, 2023 successful Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of sidesplitting 4 University of Idaho students successful November 2022. (Zach Wilkinson-Pool/Getty Images)

"[Kohberger] has been receiving find successful the aforesaid mode for implicit 2 years," Hippler wrote. "[Kohberger] has not sought further resources…to prosecute further unit to reappraisal find oregon get litigation papers power bundle to assistance signifier and benignant the evidence. His pb counsel insisted that she beryllium allowed to instrumentality connected a 2nd high-profile superior lawsuit contempt the voluminous find successful this case."

Hippler besides wrote that Kohberger's lawyer, Anne Taylor, "indicated that her signifier is to personally reappraisal each the find herself, alternatively than trust connected associates and unit to reappraisal materials to chopped done the little applicable accusation and constituent to what materials request reappraisal by pb counsel."

WHAT WENT BRYAN KOHBERGER'S WAY – AND WHAT DIDN'T – AT EVIDENCE MOTIONS HEARING

Bryan Kohberger, accused of murder, arrives for a proceeding connected cameras successful the courtroom successful Latah County District Court connected September 13, 2023 successful Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger, a erstwhile criminology PhD student, was indicted earlier this twelvemonth successful the November 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, successful an off-campus flat adjacent the University of Idaho.  (Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images)

"These actions are not indicative of an overburdened defence team," Hippler wrote of the motion.

Addressing 1 of the arguments from Kohberger's defence squad that prosecutors "larded its accumulation with wholly irrelevant documents," Hippler said there's "no proof" of that occurring.

Timeline of Nov. 13, 2022:

• 4:00 AM: Suspect arrives astatine house
• Between 4 and 4:17: Time of murders
• 4:19: Roommate calls 3 victims, nary 1 answers
• 4:22 to 4:24: Surviving roommates substance each different from wrong house
• 4:27: Roommate calls victims again, nary 1 answers
• 4:32: Roommate texts Goncalves 'Pls answer'
• 10:23: Surviving roommate texts victims, nary 1 answers
• 11:39: Roommate calls her father
• 12:00 PM.: 911 telephone placed from roommate's phone

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Madison Mogen, apical left, smiles connected the shoulders of her champion friend, Kaylee Goncalves, arsenic they airs with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and 2 different housemates successful Goncalves' last Instagram post, shared the time earlier the 4 students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)

Hippler's determination comes little than a week aft helium denied a antithetic question to region the decease penalty. Kohberger's defence squad antecedently argued that the defendant's autism diagnosis should preclude him from the decease penalty.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.