The horrific Idaho college murders have mostly faded from front-page news, but rest assured the case is still chugging along as prosecutors work to bring the killer to justice.
Prosecutors have disclosed that a police officer involved in Bryan Kohberger's case is the subject of an 'internal affairs' probe that could threaten the Idaho murder trial.
On Monday, a notice of 'potential Brady/Giglio material' was submitted to the Latah County District Attorney's Office about the separate, 'confidential' investigation.
What is "Brady material?" Put simply, it's material that could prove favorable to the defendant in a criminal trial.
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The term stems from the 1963 Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, in which the High Court ruled that prosecutors must turn over evidence that could be exculpatory to a defendant in a criminal trial. Suppressing that evidence is a violation of due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The "Brady doctrine" has become such a standard part of U.S. legalese that many police officers around the country keep on hand a "Brady list" of officers with potential credibility issues. Police with that kind of baggage can pose significant obstacles to the successful prosecution of a criminal case.
"Giglio material," meanwhile, is somewhat similar: It's defined as "material tending to impeach the character or testimony of the prosecution witness in a criminal trial."
If a police officer associated with the case is implicated in both Brady and Giglio concerns, that could indicate a significant hurdle for the prosecution to clear:
'The state has become aware of potential Brady/Giglio material related to one of the officers involved in the above-referenced case,' the state wrote in the motion.
'The State intends to disclose this information to the defendant's counsel,' prosecutors said, while adding that the information is confidential and exempt from public disclosures.
This comes as the University of Idaho looks to fast track the demolition of the home where the brutal murders took place.
