Bryan Kohberger's lawyers ask judge to ban death penalty in Idaho murders case; victim's mother says "he deserves to die"

Attorneys for a man charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students asked a judge to take the death penalty off the table Thursday, arguing that international, federal and state law all make it inappropriate for the case. But a victim's mother who attended the hearing said the suspect "deserves to die."

Bryan Kohberger is accused of the Nov. 13, 2022, killings of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. Investigators said they were able to link Kohberger - then a graduate student at nearby Washington State University - to the crime from DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, surveillance videos and cellphone data.

When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting a judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted. In September, Kohberger was booked into jail in Boise, where his trial was moved the week before.