Keith Morrison

And for Brian Koberger's attorneys...

And for Brian Koberger's attorneys...

About, perhaps most of all, about that K-Bar knife sheath. The one that Amazon record show Koberger bought eight months before the murder, and which the state will allege he left behind in Maddie Mogan's bed. That sheath could become the very centerpiece of the trial, the smoking gun, unless it isn't.

About, perhaps most of all, about that K-Bar knife sheath. The one that Amazon record show Koberger bought eight months before the murder, and which the state will allege he left behind in Maddie Mogan's bed. That sheath could become the very centerpiece of the trial, the smoking gun, unless it isn't.

In pretrial motions, lead defense attorney Ann Taylor asked the judge to exclude evidence that Kohlberger's DNA was found on the sheath. She claimed it was inadmissible because the FBI, as you'll recall, went outside its own guidelines on investigative genetic genealogy to zero in on Brian Kohlberger.

In pretrial motions, lead defense attorney Ann Taylor asked the judge to exclude evidence that Kohlberger's DNA was found on the sheath. She claimed it was inadmissible because the FBI, as you'll recall, went outside its own guidelines on investigative genetic genealogy to zero in on Brian Kohlberger.

Coeur d'Alene defense attorney Jill Bolton is not involved in the case, but explained the argument this way.

Coeur d'Alene defense attorney Jill Bolton is not involved in the case, but explained the argument this way.

But Judge Stephen Hippler disagreed. He ruled that the genetic genealogy evidence will be treated at the trial as just another tip that pointed investigators in the direction of Brian Kohlberger. So the defense will move on to another argument.

But Judge Stephen Hippler disagreed. He ruled that the genetic genealogy evidence will be treated at the trial as just another tip that pointed investigators in the direction of Brian Kohlberger. So the defense will move on to another argument.

Implying, of course, that Kohlberger's DNA on the sheath was either planted or transferred somehow. The judge has ruled that he will allow a state expert to testify that the DNA on the knife sheath was the result of direct transfer, meaning Kohlberger himself likely touched the sheath. But the defense is expected to counter with arguments like this.

Implying, of course, that Kohlberger's DNA on the sheath was either planted or transferred somehow. The judge has ruled that he will allow a state expert to testify that the DNA on the knife sheath was the result of direct transfer, meaning Kohlberger himself likely touched the sheath. But the defense is expected to counter with arguments like this.

Dr. Greg Hampikian, the former director of Idaho's Innocence Project, has testified as a DNA expert for decades.

Dr. Greg Hampikian, the former director of Idaho's Innocence Project, has testified as a DNA expert for decades.

And then the defense will almost certainly argue, again and again, that no evidence except that knife sheath links Koberger to a very bloody crime scene. To which the state will argue... How could he have gotten out of there and they found no blood in the car? Surprising to a lot of people.

And then the defense will almost certainly argue, again and again, that no evidence except that knife sheath links Koberger to a very bloody crime scene. To which the state will argue... How could he have gotten out of there and they found no blood in the car? Surprising to a lot of people.

And as for what's possible? Just last month, the defense revealed in court that it is looking into new information, which may point specifically to another killer.

And as for what's possible? Just last month, the defense revealed in court that it is looking into new information, which may point specifically to another killer.

We don't know anything about this possible new suspect, but the state may have given the defense a little ammunition. By never testing unidentified blood samples found on a banister inside the house and on a glove found outside.

We don't know anything about this possible new suspect, but the state may have given the defense a little ammunition. By never testing unidentified blood samples found on a banister inside the house and on a glove found outside.