A subpoena has been issued by the defense team representing the accused Idaho student killer, directed at a roommate who lived in the same house where the dreadful massacre took place.
Bethany Funke, one of the two survivors of the horrific incident, is contesting the subpoena which requires her to provide testimony in support of murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.
On April 21, a motion to quash the subpoena was filed by Funke, saying that she has no knowledge that could exonerate Kohberger and claiming that the defendant’s claims have no basis. The legal counsel for Kohberger insists that Funke’s testimony is vital for the trial and may even lead to their client’s acquittal from the murder accusations. They argue that the unique insight she possesses is not available from any other witness. The subpoena was submitted in Washoe County, Nevada, where Funke currently lives.
The legal team representing Funke says that the court does not possess the jurisdiction to summon a witness from Nevada to Idaho for an initial hearing. The specific information Funke might have concerning the murders that could absolve Kohberger of being the prime suspect remains uncertain. Funke resided on the ground floor of the house with the other survivor, Dylan Mortenson, who allegedly encountered the killer during the assault.
The two survivors found the victims – Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin – savagely murdered by stabbing in the upper floors of the residence. The exact locations of the surviving roommates in the hours preceding the murders have not been disclosed publicly, but they arrived home shortly after 1 am, approximately an hour before the remainder of their fatally injured housemates.
Around 4 am, Mortenson was awakened by voices and observed a man dressed in black with a mask covering the lower portion of his face approaching her. The individual proceeded to walk past her and leave through the back door. Mortenson subsequently locked herself in her room, and later that morning, one of the surviving roommates contacted the police to report the murders.
The authorities have confirmed that the surviving housemates cooperated fully throughout the investigation and were rapidly ruled out as potential suspects.
The hearing for Kohberger is scheduled to begin on June 26.
