'Crushing' Idaho murders publicity & weeks-long fear of killer on the loose are challenges in 'unusual case' lawyer says

THE intense publicity and weeks-long fear surrounding the Idaho murders are just some of the challenges in the "unusual case," a lawyer has shared.

Suspect Bryan Kohberger, due back in court on Thursday, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection to the November 13, 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students.

Kohberger is being held without bond after allegedly killing students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Duncan Levin, a prominent criminal defense attorney and Managing Partner of Levin & Associates, PLLC, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about the Idaho case.

Levin, who is not representing any of the involved parties, said that the murder case is challenging for a variety of reasons, one of which is the "crushing pretrial publicity."

Initially, the Moscow Police Department was tight-lipped and shared little to no information on a possible suspect or motive.

The case gained international attention as the weeks-long hunt for a suspect dragged on, with bits of information emerging about a possible connection to a white Hyundai Elantra and a chilling photo of two of the victims just hours before their deaths.

More than six weeks after the murders occurred, Kohberger was arrested at his parent's home in Pennsylvania on December 30.

'UNUSUAL CASE'

"This is a very unusual case," Levin said.

"There are no courts anywhere [in the country] that routinely handle this type of case.

"But this is a small court … that is not used to handling these types of matters.

The court Levin refers to is the Latah County Court, where Kohberger - who is being represented by a public defender - is expected to appear on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

“This is maybe the most talked about case anywhere in the world at the moment," Levin continued.

"The pretrial publicity will give both sides a challenge of trying to find a fair jury pool that can hear the case.”

SMALL TOWN IMPACT

Levin was also quick to offer the fact that Moscow, Idaho - the affected town - is quite small, with a population of roughly 25,435 during the 2020 census.

“It’s a highly charged, highly emotional case ... very sad situation," Levin said.

"Emotions are quite understandably so high in that city, in that county where this case is going to be held.

As a result, Levin noted that finding jurors in Latah County who can properly perform their duties could prove to be difficult.

"You’re going to get jurors who really lived through the emotion of believing there was a killer on the loose who was striking strangers, and that has got to be something that will challenge Bryan Kohberger’s ability to get a fair trial in that county," Levin said.

"And you can be sure it’ll be one of the first things that [Kohberger's] defense focuses on, is trying to see if they can move the case to a different county or a different state with less pretrial publicity.”

'TERRIFYING THOUGHT'

“It’s a very troubling case," Levin continued.

"At the moment, I think the lack of motive has really captured international attention.

"It’s very rare for a murder to take place between strangers like that."

However, a possible link between Kohberger and the victims has not yet been revealed as police continue to investigate.

A motive for the crime has not yet been revealed.

"We may learn they were not strangers … but at the moment it’s still unexplained," Levin said.

"It’s a terrifying thought to a lot of people who lock their doors at night and assume they’ll wake up in the morning."

PRETRIAL PREDICTIONS

Ahead of Kohberger's Thursday court appearance, Levin offered insight as to what may occur.

“I think at this point the case is now going to start its normal course, which will be trying to set down a trial date which might be in 2023 but it also just as likely could be in 2024," he said.

"This is a death case which tends to go a lot slower.

"We should all want the case to be done right, not done quickly.

"Everybody should want a fair process here."

As far as what Kohberger's defense might do, Levin discussed possible motions they could file.

“I suspect that the defense might put in a motion … to move the case to a different venue because of pretrial publicity," he said.

"They’ll probably make some kind of motion to inspect the state’s evidence and have their own ... DNA expert look at the DNA.

"I think we’ll likely see a trial.”