BOISE, Idaho — Prosecutors who are putting Bryan Kohberger on trial for the murder of four University of Idaho students want to evaluate his mental health, but want to keep secret the tests and other information for Kohberger’s privacy.
Kohberger faces the death penalty if convicted of killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.
The defense team says Kohberger has recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but a judge ruled that diagnosis is not enough to remove the death penalty as a possible punishment.
Prosecutors asked the judge to seal their motion to examine Kohberger.
Prosecutors wrote that “the filing reveals mental health information about [Kohberger], including psychological, psychiatric, and neurological information and diagnoses of defendant.”
“The filing also reveals the nature of mental conditions already conducted and the type of examinations and testing the State seeks to perform,” prosecutors wrote. “Some of which is personality testing to which the defendant objects.”
The filing indicates the prosecution would use information gleaned from the exam in the penalty phase, which is conducted if Kohberger is convicted.
Prosecutors and the defense are due back in court in Boise in mid-May. The trial is scheduled to begin in August.
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