Boise, Idaho-the judge who supervises the upcoming test of Bryan Kherberger of Bryan Kherberger says that he wants to identify everyone who may have violated a GAG order by leaking information from the investigation into news organizations or someone else who is not directly involved in the case.
Fourth district judge Steven Hippler ordered on Wednesday to order the judiciary and lawyers officers to a list of everyone – including staff members, law enforcers and defense advisers – who may have had access to the previously non -reported information about Kohberger’s internet search history and other details that were broadcast on May 9.
The judge said that he would be open to appointing a special public prosecutor to detect the leak, which probably has violated a GAG conveyor that has been in force since 2023.
Kherberger, 30, a former graduate student in criminal law at nearby Washington State University, is being charged because of the stabbing death of the students of the University of Idaho Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mag and Kaylee Goncalves. The four were found dead in a rental home near the campus in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.
A non-guilty plea was introduced on his behalf and the process is expected to start in August.
Prosecutors have said that they intend to seek the death penalty if Kherberger is convicted.
Hippler wrote in judicial documents that it probably seemed that someone associated with law enforcement or the prosecution team was violating the GAG order of the court.
The leak may make it more difficult to place an impartial jury, to withdraw a long and complicated lawsuit and cost taxpayers more money, Hippler wrote.
“It is important that such violations may frustrate the assets to ensure that both parties get a fair trial,” he wrote. “Accordingly, the court believes that it is necessary to try to see that the source of such a leak is identified and called to account.”
Hippler also ordered anyone who has worked directly or indirectly on the case to keep track of all the information they have had with journalists or other people outside the police about Kherberger or the investigation into the murders.
Hippler seemed to have discussed the case with public prosecutors and lawyers during a closed part of Wednesday’s pretrial hearing.
But he also referred to the Dateline episode and the possible violation of the GAG Order during open parts of the hearing – noticing at some point that he decided to implement the episode broadcast after the day to implement extra alternative jury members for the process.
Later he told the lawyers that he expected that they would submit a formal request to have the case investigated.
