Bryan Kohberger and his attorneys met a steady stream of skepticism from the judge overseeing the murder suspect’s case at a hearing Thursday as they continued their push to
drop the death penalty as a sentencing option.
Judge Steven Hippler, of Idaho’s 4th Judicial District, interjected frequently as the defense and prosecution volleyed arguments about Kohberger’s possible punishment if he is convicted at trial next summer of killing four University of Idaho students.
But the Ada County judge particularly challenged the defense about a litany of supposed justifications they presented to try to convince him to take the death penalty off the table – when the Idaho and U.S. supreme courts have established it as an option under the law.
In Idaho murder case, Kohberger’s defense argues death penalty ‘ought to be abolished’
Updated Thu., Nov. 7, 2024 at 10:10 p.m.