These 3 Words Have Been Banned From The Bryan Kohberger Trial

The judge presiding over the Bryan Kohberger murder trial has set final ground rules ahead of the high-profile proceedings, including a restriction on emotionally charged language during key parts of the case.

Kohberger, 30, is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. At the time, he was a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University. The DeSales University graduate was arrested weeks later at his family's home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania.

During Wednesday’s pre-trial hearing, defense attorneys asked Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler to limit the state’s use of graphic evidence and inflammatory language — specifically terms like "murderer," "psychopath," and "sociopath."

Hippler declined to issue a general order against inflammatory conduct but told both sides that he expected them to follow courtroom rules.

He said he wouldn’t allow the use of the terms “psychopath,” “sociopath” or “murderer” during the evidentiary phase but left open the possibility that prosecutors could use “murderer” during closing arguments.

Investigators said Kohberger's DNA was matched to genetic material found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene — a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. The victims were identified as Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves.

Jury selection in the case is expected to begin July 30, with the trial starting Aug. 11. The trial is expected to take nearly three months to complete.

Kohberger has not entered a plea. When prompted to respond to the charges, he stood silent, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

“Make no mistake, these murders, whoever did them, were ... horrific. And I expect that the evidence will reflect that,” Hippler said. “When it comes to cumulative evidence or some that are unnecessarily graphic, I think we will address that on a case-by-case basis.”

Kohberger's arrest came nearly seven weeks after the students were found slain at the off-campus house, rattling the tight-knit college community.

According to Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, Kohberger arrived several days before Christmas at his parents' house in Pennsylvania for the holidays. He was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant in Chestnuthill Township in Monroe County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

At the time of his arrest, Kohberger had just completed his first semester as a PhD student at Washington State University’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, the university confirmed.

Kohberger graduated from Northampton Community College in 2018 with an associate of arts degree in psychology. He received a bachelor’s degree from DeSales University in 2020 and completed graduate studies in June 2022.

At DeSales University, Kohberger studied under Katherine Ramsland, a forensic psychologist who is the author of books like "How To Catch A Killer" and "The Mind Of A Murderer," The Daily Beast reported. A former classmate described him to the publication as "very intelligent" and "well spoken" but "seemingly detached."