Judge extends gag order in Idaho murders case stopping police releasing information about Bryan Kohberger

Order on non-dissemination of information is extended to victims’ families

A court in Idaho has extended a gag order issued earlier this month prohibiting law enforcement officials from revealing information about the murders of four University of Idaho students and the arrest of their accused killer Bryan Kohberger.

The order, issued by the Latah County Chief Magistrate on 4 January, was extended on Thursday and will remain in place throughout court proceedings until a verdict has been reached or unless the mandate is modified by the court.

The earlier court order banned investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and members of both the prosecution and the defence from sharing any new information about the investigation or the suspect before a verdict is reached at trial.

As a result Moscow Police Department, which had been sharing updates on the investigation, said in a statement that it will no longer be communicating with the public or the media regarding the case.

Thursday’s order both extends and expands the earlier measure.

According to court documents “any attorney representing witness, victim, or victim‘s family, as well as the parties to the above-entitled action, including but not limited to investigators, law enforcement personnel, and agents for the prosecuting attorney or defense attorney, are prohibited from making extrajudicial statements (written or oral) concerning this case”.

The order says that attorneys for victims’ families will not allowed to share any information relating to evidence in the case, character, credibility, or criminal record of a party involved, the results of any examinations in the case, or any opinions on the merits of the case.

They will also not be allowed to disseminate anything that might impact a fair trial, including statements, confessions, and admissions given by the suspect or information on plea deals.

Kohberger’s arrest last month marked a huge breakthrough in the weeks-long investigation into the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin which rocked the small college town on 13 November.