BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Surviving Idaho roommate fights Kohberger hearing subpoena

  • A surviving Idaho roommate is pushing against attending Kohberger's hearing
  • Her attorney argues the hearing isn’t ‘meant to become a mini-trial’
  • An Idaho judge says the roommate “may” be a material witness for the case

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation) — One of the survivors of the Idaho college killings is fighting against a subpoena requiring her presence and potential testimony at the preliminary hearing of accused murderer Bryan Kohberger, NewsNation national correspondent Brian Entin has learned.

Bethany Funke is arguing that she should not have to testify at the preliminary hearing nor for the duration of the trial. The subpoena for Funke, who is now believed to be living in Nevada, was issued April 11. An attorney for Funke moved to quash the subpoena 10 days later, claiming it was “improperly issued” and that a hearing must be held before Funke can be required to testify.

“There is no authority for an Idaho criminal defendant to summon a Nevada witness to Idaho for preliminary hearing,” the motion by Funke’s attorney says, in part. “There is also no authority for an Idaho criminal defendant to summon a Nevada witness to an Idaho matter without a hearing.”

According to court documents, the preliminary hearing is scheduled to happen June 26 through June 30.

Idaho Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall wrote on March 24 that Funke “may” be a material witness for the case and that she will be required to attend the hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho, beginning on the morning of June 28. Currently, it’s unclear if there has been a response to Funke’s latest argument to not go to the hearing.

In her motion, Funke’s attorney wrote: “A preliminary hearing is not meant to become a mini-trial due to its limited purpose in deciding of probable cause.”

Investigators allege Kohberger fatally stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in the early morning hours of Nov. 13 at an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho.

A source close to the families of the victims told NewsNation in February that Funke was not among those who discovered the bodies, and that she was the only one living in the basement at the house and did not go upstairs after the killings.

Similarly, Marc Klaas had to testify in a courtroom after his 12-year-old daughter Polly was kidnapped and killed in 1993. During an appearance on NewsNation’s “Banfiled,” Klaas shared his perspective on Funke. 

“I think it’s a brutal way to get this young woman to testify. … She’s had enough. My goodness, that poor lady. Everything that she’s gone through, and continues to have to go through,” Klaas said. “This is probably the defining moment of her life in many ways, and they’re asking her to come into a hearing room and face, I assume that he’ll (Kohberger) be there.”

A hearing date to determine whether Funke must testify has not been set.

Entin also discovered the gag order in the Kohberger case will remain due to an Idaho Supreme Court ruling issued Monday.

Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection to the case.

Idaho College Killings

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fog

la

55°F Fog Feels like 55°
Wind
2 mph WNW
Humidity
95%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
51°F Cloudy. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
3 mph N
Precip
8%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent