The victims, University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, were brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus residence.
Nearly two years have passed since the gruesome incident, yet the trial remains in its preliminary stages. A recent hearing this week resulted in the judge's refusal to set a trial date, pushing the expected trial commencement to spring 2025 at the earliest. This decision has led to public calls for officials to expedite the process and bring the ongoing disputes to a resolution.
"The victim families are really the sufferers with these delays," former FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told DailyMail.com post-hearing. "Unfortunately, it looks like we're still years away from trial." Coffindaffer, who has served as an expert witness in numerous trials, expressed that the continuous delays are akin to "picking a scab off the wound" for the victims' families.
THE UNSEEN VICTIMS OF WAR: HOW RUSSIA'S INVASION LEFT THOUSANDS OF DISABLED UKRAINIANS IN PERIL
Prior to the hearing, the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves expressed their anxiety over the ongoing hearings on Facebook, vowing to attend every court date. "Feeling anxious about tomorrow, but our family will continue to show up for EVERY court date. The Goncalves Family will remain strong and united. We will NEVER give up," they wrote.
WATCH: BYRON DONALDS ENGAGES WITH HAMAS SUPPORTERS
March 02, 2024
The latest delay follows a series of postponements that have incited public outrage. In November, Kaylee's mother, Kristi, criticized the "gut-wrenching" process in an interview with KHQ. "It's gut-wrenching how slow everything has to go. Why does this have to be so drawn out?" she lamented.
WATCH MAYOR ADAMS: "YOU DON'T TAKE OVER OUR BUILDINGS AND PUT ANOTHER FLAG UP"
The public's frustration was further amplified following this week's failure to set a trial date. Supporters took to social media to voice their discontent, with one user stating, "I can’t believe this Kohberger trial isn’t gonna happen till 2025. Those students were murdered in 2022. Our court system needs a revamp."
WATCH: DOJ SET TO INDICT TEXAS DEMOCRAT REP.HENRY CUELLER, WHAT'S AT STAKE, YOU ASK?
Coffindaffer suggested that Kohberger's defense team is deliberately employing "delay tactics" to gain an advantage, including the possibility that key witnesses could pass away if the trial continues to be postponed. "There's all these things that can happen when you delay, delay, delay, in my opinion the defense knows this and they will continue to delay," she said.
THE HAWAII BILLIONAIRE BATTLE: MEET THE RECLUSIVE RICHEST MAN ON THE ISLAND...
Adding to the public's frustration was the demolition of the Moscow, Idaho home where the murders took place in December. Despite both prosecution and defense agreeing to the demolition, the victims' families and Coffindaffer argued against it, believing it could hold crucial evidence. "I will always stand by the fact that that house could have held important information in the cracks and crevices," Coffindaffer stated.
ISRAELI FATHER, BELIEVED TO BE A HAMAS HOSTAGE, CONFIRMED DEAD
Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, argued for the trial's delay due to the vast amount of disorganized information surrounding the case. "Not only do we have a huge volume of information, the way I’m getting it is completely disorganized," Taylor said in court.
ELON MUSK ISSUES 'TROUBLESOME' WARNING TO U.S., BUT IS THERE ANY WEIGHT TO IT?
One of the main points of contention at Wednesday's trial scheduling hearing was Kohberger's alibi on the night of the murders. Kohberger claims he was out driving alone at the time but has refused to provide further details, leading to increased frustration over the delays. In response, Judge John Judge set a deadline of April 17 for his alibi to be established in court.
OUCH! INFLUENCERS BLAST BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS ON DR. PHIL
Coffindaffer suggested that the lack of a concrete alibi is another "delay tactic" by Kohberger's team. "I know Judge Judge will likely be lenient to a degree too, because this is a death penalty case," she added. "He doesn't want to be overturned in his rulings, and there are over 50 terabytes of information in the case, so the defense has all of that working on their side."
In addition to the delays, Kohberger's hearings have also been criticized for the seemingly lax security around the murder suspect, who continues to enter court in a full suit without handcuffs. Coffindaffer argued that the lack of precautions is peculiar, especially when compared to others accused of similar crimes. "It just really lacks proper security," she said. "He's in a suit and tie, his hair is trimmed, his eyebrows are trimmed, there's no security around him."
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
