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Bryan Kohberger's former lawyer Jason LaBar says there's 'no evidence' Idaho suspect is mentally ill

Jason LaBar, who represented Bryan Kohberger during his extradition, had previously insisted that his client was innocent of all charges 

This article is based on sources and MEAWW cannot verify this information independently.

MOSCOW, IDAHO: As University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger awaits his next court hearing, scheduled for June 26, his former defense lawyer, Jason LaBar, has reportedly said that he has not seen any evidence to believe the Idaho murder suspect suffers from any mental health issues that could impact the trial. LaBar had previously averred that the suspect was innocent of the charges levied against him. 

Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology student, was arrested on December 30 from his parents' home in eastern Pennsylvania in connection with the November 13 murders of four University of Idaho students - Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Among the pieces of evidence gathered against him is a knife sheath recovered from the crime scene that has his DNA on it. 

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LaBar, who represented Kohberger during his extradition from Monroe County, Pennsylvania, to the Latah County Jail in Moscow, has described Kohberger as educated and calm. Speaking to WFMZ-TV,  LaBar, Chief Public Defender for Monroe County, said that Kohberger's parents "understand the situation that he's alleged to have committed these murders, and they understand that there's four families suffering loss of their loved ones. They pray every day." He added, "It's very difficult for them."  About Kohberger's mental health, LaBar said, "I haven't seen any evidence that I believe that Mr Kohberger had any type of mental illness or disease or defect."

Earlier, LaBar had claimed that there were several loopholes in the probable cause affidavit against Kohberger, insisting all evidence presented was circumstantial. "It certainly was a strong circumstantial case, but I believe that individually taken, the evidence could be attacked," LaBar told WFMZ-TV, doubling down on his previous statement. 

In Kohberger's case, the strongest piece of evidence is his DNA found on the knife sheath that was recovered from the crime scene. While the murder weapon remains missing, his DNA on the holster is expected to prove strong evidence against him. Another important piece of evidence in the affidavit, released after Kohberger's arrest, was security footage that reportedly captured a 2015 Hyundai Elantra leaving the area of the crime scene in Moscow around 4.20 am While LaBar admitted that he did not know how Kohberger's DNA was found on the knife sheath, he feels that the other shreds of evidence, along with the lack of any clear motive, create enough room to argue for the innocence of the murder suspect. Calling the American criminal justice system the best in the world, LaBar said that the basis of that "is the presumption of innocence and it's the Commonwealth in Pennsylvania, in Idaho, it's the prosecution's job to prove someone actually committed the crime."