A subpoena was issued for one of the surviving roommates ‘Bethany Funke’ to be present for the Bryan Kohberger preliminary hearing, scheduled to begin on June 26, 2023.
Kohberger is charged with four counts of first degree murder in the killing of four University of Idaho students, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves.
The witness is challenging the subpoena, stating that defense claims are without support and not necessary for the June preliminary hearing.
Kohberger’s lawyers argued that Bethany Funke, the 21-year-old housemate of the four victims, could clear the suspect from the murder charges.
“Bethany Funke has information material to the charges against Mr. Kohberger; portions of information Ms. Funke has is exculpatory to the defendant,” Richard Bitonti, one of Kohberger’s attorneys, said in an affidavit, the New York Post reported.
“Ms. Funke’s information is unique to her experiences and cannot be provided by another witness,” Bitoni added.
Funke has denied she has any information that could clear Kohberger from the crime and filed a court filing challenging the subpoena.