'He was innocent of the crimes': Bryan Kohberger's ex-lawyer Jason LaBar finds flaws in evidence
This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently
MOSCOW, IDAHO: While a probable cause affidavit released recently presented a "strong circumstantial case" for the University of Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, his former attorney said the evidence isn't strong enough. Jason LaBar, Chief Public Defender for Monroe County who represented Kohberger during his extradition hearings has picked up holes in the evidence linking him to the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
“When it’s viewed individually, you can attack that evidence as a defense attorney,” Jason LaBar told the host of the Law&Crime on Sidebar podcast. The strongest piece of evidence so far has been the DNA found on the button sheath of the knife, which is the only evidence connecting him with the murders. LaBar even shrugged that off saying, it was "touch DNA or transfer DNA".
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LaBar continued, “Which (DNA) would mean that it could remain on that sheath for an indefinite period of time, if undisturbed,” he explained. “That’s one way of attacking that type of evidence that doesn’t put him at the scene of the crime the night out, just that he merely touched that sheath at some point in time.”
LaBar even criticized investigating agencies for using cellphone tower pings rather than the GPS location coordinates and even said that the Hyundai Elantra found around the crime scene was "circumstantial evidence". Also, that roommate Dylan Mortensen being a witness of seeing Kohberger could be contested.
“If it was GPS location coordinates, you’re talking down to a meter as to where Bryan Kohberger was at the time of these crimes, whereas a cellphone tower ping is that you’re within a radius of that tower up to 20 miles,” LaBar explained. “And obviously, Mr. Kohberger lived within ten miles of the University of Idaho where these crimes were committed. So certainly he could ping at any moment in time near the actual crime," he told the host. “I don’t believe hearsay is admissible in Idaho under the rules,” LaBar said. “Cross-examination of Dylan Mortensen is going to be key in the case to possibly get even more holes as far as the identification is concerned.”
LaBar told the station host, he spoke with Kohberger over the course of the five days, approximately four hours in total, and described him as “engaged.” “He was aware of what plans I had, and he was good with everything that I laid out for him, including the statement,” he related. “The statement of him being exonerated implicitly meant that he was innocent of the crimes. He used the word exonerated.”
LaBar said that even though the case was still in its infancy, more evidence will come after a preliminary hearing. “I know I’ve been stressing since my representation of Bryan that he’s entitled to a fair trial,” LaBar continued. “And really, that’s why I’m trying to be a voice for him so people don’t jump to conclusions and raise these biases so that he can actually have a fair trial with the presumption of innocence.”