BOISE, Idaho – The judge presiding over the University of Idaho quadruple murder case has ruled suspect Bryan Kohberger can face the death penalty if convicted, despite his recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Kohberger is accused of killing four students in November 2022.
The defense argued the death penalty violates Kohberger’s rights because the diagnosis is equivalent to an intellectual disability.
The judge’s ruling reveals that Kohberger was only recently diagnosed with ASD Level 1, formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome.
The expert who diagnosed him said that while Kohberger is articulate and his language is “generally appropriate,” he also rocks back and forth and gets fixated on things.
Prosecutors argued that this diagnosis does not fall under the criteria for eliminating someone from getting the death penalty.
“No court has ever found ASD to be categorically death-disqualifying diagnosis,” Judge Hippler wrote.
You can read the full order here.
Kohberger’s trial is set to begin in August.
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