Idaho Richter wants an investigation of information leaks in Bryan Kohberger's four -way murder case

Boise, Idaho (AP) -The judge, who monitors Bryan Kohberger's upcoming four-way murder version, would like to identify anyone who may have violated a GAG arrangement by not directly involved in information from the examination of news organizations or others.

The judge of the fourth district, Steven Hippler, ordered the public prosecutor and defender on Wednesday to give him a list of all – including employees, law enforcement officers and defense consultants – who possibly had access to the information previously not reported about Kohberger's Internet search history and other details that were broadcast on an NBC episode “Dateline” on May 9.

The judge said he was open to appoint a special prosecutor to clarify the leak, which probably violated a GAG order that has existed since 2023.

Kohberger, 30, a former doctoral student of the criminal judiciary at the nearby Washington State University, will be accused of the four on November 13, 2022 in a rental house near the campus in Moscow, Idaho.

A non -guilty plea was entered in his name, and the process is expected to begin in August.

The prosecutors said they intend to apply for the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.

Hippler wrote in court documents that it probably seemed that someone who was associated with law enforcement agencies or the public prosecutor's team violated the court order. The leak may make it more difficult to set an impartial jury, to carry out an already long and complicated court case and to cost taxpayers more money, wrote Hippler.

“It is important that such violations may thwart the ability to receive both sides a fair procedure,” he wrote. “Accordingly, the court is absolutely necessary to try to see that the source of such a leak is identified and taken into account.”

Hippler also ordered that everyone who worked directly or indirectly on the case is kept all records of communication with journalists or other people outside the law enforcement authorities via Kohberger or the examination of the murders.

Hippler seemed to have discussed the matter with prosecutors and defenders during a closed part of the pre -judicial hearing on Wednesday. However, he also referred to the Dateline episode and the possible violation of the GAG ​​order during the open parts of the hearing -at some point he noticed that the episode after the day decided to improve additional alternative jurors for the process.

Later he informed the lawyers, he expected that they would submit a formal request to investigate the matter.

Rebecca Boone, Associated Press