The 28-year-old man accused of killing four University of Idaho students has asked the court to give him more time to decide whether to offer an alibi for the crime.
The suspect, who is not being named per Daily Wire policy, has filed a court motion stating that due to the “voluminous” and “still ongoing” discovery process, as well as the defense’s continued investigation of the charges against the suspect, deciding to offer an alibi would be “at a minimum, premature as wading through the extensive information that makes up the case is incomplete,” the court documents said, according to ABC News.
Further, deciding now “may tread into disclosures of protected information,” the motion added. Thus, the defense said it “needs time to make this determination and consider evidentiary rules.”
The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office previously filed a motion for the suspect’s notice of alibi on May 23. Idaho law gives defendants ten days to respond to such a motion, “or at such different time as the court may direct,” in writing. They must also provide a list of witnesses they would call on to confirm that alibi.
The suspect’s attorneys are requesting additional time to decide or an exception to the rule. Should the court not grant their request, defense attorneys wrote, then they asked for a hearing “to present oral argument, evidence and/or testimony.”
Last week, the suspect filed a motion requesting to exclude cameras from his pre-trial hearings and the trial itself, KXLY reported. The suspect wrote, “(A)udio/visual coverage has become material for news outlets and social media accounts to espouse their unfounded opinions.”
He cited social media posts, TikTok videos, and podcasts he says have attempted to analyze his “demeanor by observing his body language… and describing him using phrases such as ‘cold iciness.’” He also wrote at length about so-called experts getting air time to analyze his body language and included studies that he said debunk that practice as it has been used in other cases.
The suspect further argued that allowing cameras during trials can cause participants to act differently, adding that cameras place “additional responsibilities on the trial judge” that may distract them from properly presiding over the trial.
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A judge will hear arguments relating to the issue at the end of the week. News organizations have argued that allowing cameras in the courtroom is a First Amendment right “because it enhances the quality and safeguards the integrity of the factfinding process with benefits to both the defendant and society as a whole.”
The suspect was formally indicted in May on charges including first-degree murder. During his arraignment, he wore a bullet-proof vest under his orange jumpsuit, the Daily Mail reported.
He reportedly stood silently when the judge asked him to enter his plea, so the judge entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. With pleas set, prosecutors have less than 60 days to decide whether to pursue the death penalty. Families of the victims have reportedly asked for the death penalty.
The suspect was arrested six weeks after four friends, Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Ethan Chapin, 20; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Madison Mogen, 21, were stabbed to death on November 13, 2022.
