Bryan Kohberger Doesn't Want Amazon Shopping List Revealed at Trial

Bryan Kohberger, accused of the killings of four University of Idaho students, has filed a motion requesting that evidence from his Amazon purchase history be excluded from his upcoming trial. His legal team argues that the data, including "Amazon click activity," is vague, incomplete, and potentially unfairly prejudicial.

Defense attorney Elisa Massoth stated that prosecutors have not adequately explained the nature of the evidence or the expert testimony surrounding it. She criticized the state for allegedly cherry-picking "limited data" that lacks context and fails to present a comprehensive picture.

Massoth also pointed out the influence of Amazon's AI-driven algorithms, arguing that the platform shapes user behavior by suggesting products based on predictive models. According to the filing, this could mean Kohberger's browsing and purchase history might not reflect deliberate intent but rather algorithmic persuasion. It's an interesting twist when even algorithms are dragged into court battles.

The defense further noted that Kohberger's Amazon account might have been used by other household members, adding another layer of complexity to the data. Kohberger, 30, has two sisters, as well as his parents, who may have shared access to his account.

Prosecutors have previously tried to link Kohberger to a Ka-Bar knife found at the crime scene, with DNA evidence allegedly tying him to the sheath left under the body of Madison Mogen, one of the victims. NBC's "Dateline" reported that Kohberger purchased a Ka-Bar knife from Amazon in 2022 before moving to Pullman, Washington, where he was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology just 10 miles from the crime scene.

Police did recover knives during Kohberger's arrest, but none have been publicly identified as the murder weapon. The gruesome killings involved multiple stab wounds to four victims: Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20.

Kohberger, whose trial is set to begin on August 11 in Boise, faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted. A judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf during his arraignment in May 2023.