Brian Coburger, accused of murdering four University of Idaho students, is set to appear in court for an arraignment, which will be his first hearing since being indicted by a grand jury. The indictment allows prosecutors to skip a planned preliminary hearing, which was originally set for late June. Coburger was a graduate student studying criminology at the nearby Washington State University at the time of the murders, which occurred at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in November. The case is expected to go to trial, with the defense likely to focus on the cell phone data and potential mental health issues. The arraignment will be held on Monday, and it's anticipated that the case will proceed to a trial, potentially in the beginning of 2024.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Brian Coburger is charged with murdering four University of Idaho students.
2. The students were found fatally stabbed at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in November.
3. Coburger was a graduate student studying criminology at nearby Washington State University at the time of the incident.
4. He was indicted by a grand jury earlier in the week, allowing prosecutors to skip a planned week-long preliminary hearing.
5. An arraignment is scheduled for Monday, where Coburger will plead "not guilty" and deny the allegations.
6. The case is expected to go to trial, as high-profile cases rarely result in plea bargains.
7. The trial may not take place until early 2024, due to the time it takes to prepare and the backlog of cases in the jurisdiction.
8. Social media may play a role in jury selection, as both the judge and lawyers will ask potential jurors about their exposure to news and social media coverage of the case.
9. It may be difficult to seat a jury due to the high profile of the case and the fact that many people in the area have likely heard about it.
10. The defense may file a motion for a change of venue, which could potentially move the trial to a different county or area.
11. The preliminary hearing was scheduled but will not take place due to the grand jury indictment.
12. Testimony from the grand jury may become available to the public, but it will not be as detailed as what would have been presented during a preliminary hearing.
13. The defense is expected to be aggressive and may include a mental health component, potentially involving a psychiatrist's evaluation of Coburger.