With just months to go before his trial, Bryan Kohberger’s defense team is making a new argument: His personality and the way he carries himself could unfairly sway the jury against him.
In a recent court filing, his attorney, Anne Taylor, argued that Kohberger’s quiet, emotionless demeanor might be misunderstood, making him seem suspicious when, in reality, it’s just how he is. She described him as someone who sits very still, has a flat expression, uses a lot of big words, and keeps his hands in the same position. He also tends to stare intensely, speaks in a specific rhythm, and moves stiffly.
Taylor says these behaviors are actually signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a condition that affects how people communicate and interact. She’s asking the court to allow two expert witnesses to explain ASD to the jury, so they don’t misinterpret Kohberger’s behavior as something “sinister.”
The defense is also pushing back against claims that Kohberger was acting guilty on the night of his arrest. Prosecutors have pointed out that he was wearing gloves and carefully placing trash in plastic bags, suggesting he was trying to avoid leaving DNA behind. But Taylor argues that this was just a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), saying Kohberger often wears gloves because he doesn’t like touching germs.
Prosecutors, however, aren’t buying it. They’ve objected to the idea of bringing in these additional expert witnesses, saying it’s unnecessary and not relevant to the case. Now, the decision is up to the judge.
Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students—Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—who were found stabbed to death in their off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. His trial is scheduled to start in August, nearly three years after the brutal attack.
As the trial date gets closer, both sides are ramping up their legal battles. In just the first three days of this week, Kohberger’s defense team and prosecutors have already filed 39 new motions in court.
It’s clear that this case is shaping up to be a heated legal fight—with high stakes on both sides.
