Judge Skewers Bryan Kohberger's Logic in Idaho Murder Trial

An Idaho judge denied a motion from Bryan Kohberger's attorneys to dismiss the grand jury indictment on Monday, revealing that the defense team's arguments missed aspects of the law.

"The arguments from the defense for a 'beyond reasonable doubt' standard for the grand jury were historically interesting and creative, but do not overturn Idaho courts' interpretation of the statute, the case law, and the Criminal Rules, specifically Rule through 6.8 I.C.R., that the standard for the grand jury to indict is 'probable cause.' Therefore, the Court denies Kohberger's Motion to Dismiss the Indictment based on his claim of inaccurate instructions to the grand jury in order to warrant an indictment," Judge John Judge wrote in a ruling on Monday.

The ruling on Monday comes as Kohberger's defense team, led by Kootenai County Chief Public Defender Anne Taylor, has continued to argue that the grand jury indictment in the Idaho murders should be dismissed.

Kohberger was arrested in December 2022 and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary, in the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20 and Xana Kernodle, 20.

Kohberger, 29, has maintained his innocence in the case and previously stood silent during his arraignment, allowing the judge to enter not-guilty pleas for each of the charges filed against him.

"Kohberger claims that the standard of proof for grand jury to return an indictment is 'beyond reasonable doubt.' And because the grand jury in this case was instructed that the standard of proof was 'probable cause' and found there was probable cause to return an Indictment, Kohberger argues that the Indictment must be dismissed," the ruling said. "The State disputes Kohberger's argument and asserts that 'probable cause' for an indictment is settled law in Idaho. There is no dispute that, in this case, the standard applied by the grand jury to justify the Indictment was 'probable cause.'"

The ruling goes on to state that Kohberger and his defense team miss certain language of the statute that states "by a trial jury."

"The additional language provides the broader context of 'warrant conviction by trial jury.' not grand jury. One definition of 'probable cause' is 'reasonable ground for belief in the existence of facts warranting the proceeds complained of.' This is precisely what grand juries are charged to determine," the ruling says. "The grand jury is not trial jury. Its function is to screen whether or not there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The grand jury is baked into our United States Constitution, Amendment."

Newsweek reached out to Taylor via email for comment on the judge's decision.