Judge considering change of venue decision for University of Idaho murder case

Judge considering change of venue decision for University of Idaho murder case

The suspect in the murder of four University of Idaho students, Bryan Kohberger, returned to court Thursday as the judge weighs whether to change the venue for his trial.

Kohberger’s lawyers hope to move the trial to a different county, arguing the local jury pool in Latah County, which encompasses the college town of Moscow, was tainted by pretrial publicity.

Defense lawyers surveyed Latah County residents and said their results found that the “pressure to convict” Kohberger was shown to be “so severe” the venue couldn’t possibly be impartial.

Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing on Aug. 18, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in Nov. 2022.

August Frank-Pool/Getty Images, FILE

The defense said one respondent answered they would “burn the courthouse down” if he were not convicted. The same survey, according to the defense, found “much less emotional” responses from people living closer to Boise, where Kohberger’s lawyers suggested the trial be moved.

“The traumatized town of Moscow is understandably filled with deeply held prejudgment opinions of guilt,” defense attorney Elisa Massoth said in a filing this month.

The prosecution has said the case has national and international interest, and that the case has been covered plenty in Boise, so a change of venue would not solve any problem.

Prosecutors argued in a filing this month that the defense “failed to establish that a fair and impartial trial cannot be held in Latah County.”

Victim Kaylee Goncalves’ family wants the trial to stay in Latah County.

To Kaylee Goncalves’ mom, Kristi Goncalves, all Latah County citizens are victims.

She recalled seeing a huge crowd of people, some crying, at the University of Idaho’s healing garden, which opened to the public last week.

The local residents “deserve to have a hand in part of the healing and part of the justice,” she told ABC News Thursday.

“Anybody can find 12 people that can go into that courtroom without their mind made up. It’s America,” added Kaylee Goncalves’ dad, Steve Goncalves.

Police tape at the site of a quadruple murder of four University of Idaho students, Jan. 3, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.

David Ryder/Getty Images, FILE

Moscow Mayor Art Bettge said in a statement last week that, if the case stayed in Latah County, “I firmly believe people would be able to set aside any personal feelings they have … set aside any information they may have read or heard … and make a determination of guilty or not guilty based on the evidence presented in the courtroom and deliberate according to the instructions provided to them.”

The trial is scheduled to start on June 2, 2025, and run until Aug. 29, 2025. Judge John Judge said in June that if the venue changes, the trial date would still hold.

Kohberger is accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in an off-campus house in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022. Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20, and Goncalves, 21, were all brutally murdered during the break-in.

Kohberger, who was a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University at the time of the crime, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.

A not guilty plea was entered on Kohberger’s behalf. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik and Julie Scott contributed to this report.

The murder case at the University of Idaho has garnered significant attention in recent weeks, with many wondering whether a change of venue decision will be made by the judge overseeing the case. The high-profile nature of the case, combined with the small and close-knit community of Moscow, Idaho, where the university is located, has raised concerns about the ability to select an impartial jury.

The case involves the tragic death of a student at the university, who was found murdered in her dorm room. The suspect, also a student at the university, has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently awaiting trial. The case has sparked outrage and disbelief among the community, as such violent crimes are rare in this quiet college town.

Given the intense media coverage and emotional impact of the case on the community, there are valid concerns about whether a fair trial can be conducted in Moscow. The defense team has argued that the extensive media coverage has tainted potential jurors and that it would be impossible to find an unbiased jury in the area.

In response to these concerns, the judge is now considering whether to grant a change of venue for the trial. A change of venue would involve moving the trial to a different location, potentially a larger city where there is less media coverage and where potential jurors may be less likely to have been influenced by the case.

While a change of venue may seem like a drastic measure, it is not uncommon in high-profile cases where there are concerns about finding an impartial jury. The goal of a change of venue is to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial and that justice is served.

However, a change of venue decision is not taken lightly and must be carefully considered by the judge. Factors such as the cost and logistics of moving the trial, as well as the impact on the victim’s family and witnesses, must be taken into account.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to grant a change of venue will rest with the judge overseeing the case. It is a decision that will have far-reaching implications for both the defendant and the community at large. As the case continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the judge as they weigh these important considerations and make a decision that will shape the course of justice in this tragic case.