Bryan Kohberger, accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is preparing to challenge the grand jury indictment against him. His legal team has requested a stay in the proceedings while they seek further disclosure of materials from the prosecution, according to recent court documents.

Kohberger, 28, was arrested approximately seven weeks after the killings of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The victims were found stabbed to death in an off-campus residence on November 13, 2022.

At his arraignment last month, Kohberger chose to remain silent, leading Judge John Judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. Defense attorney Anne Taylor clarified that this silence was a strategic move to preserve Kohberger's right to contest the indictment.

Taylor argued in a motion last week that the defense requires access to additional grand jury materials before they can effectively challenge the indictment. This request has created a standoff with prosecutors, who have not yet provided the requested information. The defense contends that this delay is hindering their ability to prepare a motion to dismiss based on the grand jury selection process.

However, Latah County prosecutors and the state attorney general's office have countered, arguing that Kohberger's request is premature and lacks sufficient legal basis under Idaho law. They assert that Kohberger is essentially asking the court to halt the proceedings without first providing adequate justification for the stay.

The investigation leading to Kohberger's arrest spanned multiple states and involved assistance from the FBI. DNA evidence recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene reportedly played a key role in linking Kohberger to the murders.

The grand jury's indictment on four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge superseded the need for a previously scheduled preliminary hearing. Legal experts suggest that the defense will likely gain access to much of the grand jury information, potentially through a court order, to assess the possibility of challenging the jury's composition.

Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at Washington State University, is being held without bail. He faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted. The trial is set to commence on October 2nd and is expected to last up to six weeks. A hearing on the defense's motion is scheduled for June 27th.