The venue will be changed in the University of Idaho quadruple murder trial, Judge John Judge has ruled.
The judge said, “Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating ‘a reasonable likelihood’ that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County. Thus, the Court will grant Kohberger’s motion to change venue for presumed prejudice.”
The new location was not immediately clear. The decision will be left up to Idaho’s highest court.
Lawyers for the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, pushed to move the trial to Boise, arguing the local jury pool in Latah County, which encompasses Moscow, was tainted by pretrial publicity.
In this Nov. 16, 2022 file photo flowers were left at the house where four University of Idaho students were found dead, in Moscow, Idaho.
Angela Palermo/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, FILE
Defense lawyers surveyed Latah County residents and said their results found that the “pressure to convict” Kohberger was shown to be “so severe” that the venue couldn’t be impartial.
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, which is about 300 miles south of Moscow.
Bryan Kohberger arrives for a hearing on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on Sept. 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho.
Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images, FILE
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.
Moscow Mayor Art Bettge said in a statement in August 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 guilt or not guilty based on the evidence presented in the courtroom and deliberate according to the instructions provided to them.”
The trial is set to begin on June 2, 2025, and run until Aug. 29, 2025. The judge said in June that if the venue changed, the trial date would still hold.
Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in an off-campus house in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022. Kohberger was a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University at the time.
A photo posted by Kaylee Goncalves only a few days ago shows University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Goncalves. The four were found dead at an off-campus house on Nov. 13, 2022.
Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram
Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
A recent development in the case of the University of Idaho murder trial has been the decision by the judge to move the venue for the trial. This decision comes after much debate and consideration of the potential impact of holding the trial in the original location.
The murder trial in question involves a former University of Idaho student who is accused of killing another student on campus. The case has garnered significant media attention and has sparked a heated debate within the community about the safety of the university campus and the fairness of the trial proceedings.
The decision to move the venue for the trial was made by the judge after careful consideration of several factors. One of the main concerns was the potential bias that could exist among potential jurors in the original location. Given the high-profile nature of the case and the intense media coverage it has received, there was a concern that finding an impartial jury in the original location would be difficult.
Moving the venue for the trial will also help to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved. With tensions running high in the community over the case, there were concerns about potential protests or disruptions at the courthouse during the trial. By moving the venue to a different location, these concerns can be mitigated and the trial can proceed in a more controlled environment.
While some may argue that moving the venue for the trial could delay proceedings or make it more difficult for witnesses and family members to attend, ultimately the judge’s decision is aimed at ensuring a fair and impartial trial for all parties involved. By moving the venue to a location where potential jurors are less likely to be biased and where security concerns can be better managed, the judge is taking steps to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.
Overall, the decision to move the venue for the University of Idaho murder trial is a significant development in the case. It reflects a commitment to ensuring a fair trial for all parties involved and to upholding the principles of justice and due process. As the trial moves forward in its new location, it will be important for all parties to continue to respect the judicial process and allow justice to be served in a fair and impartial manner.
