Idaho Murders Trial to Be Moved from Moscow, Judge Rules
September 10, 2024
MOSCOW, IDAHO: In a significant development in the high-profile Idaho murders case, a judge has ruled that the trial of Bryan Kohberger, accused of brutally killing four University of Idaho students, will be moved out of Latah County due to concerns over prejudicial media coverage and the close-knit nature of the community.
Judge John C. Judge granted the defense's motion for a change of venue on September 6, citing the "extreme nature of the news coverage" and the small population of Latah County as reasons for the move. The judge noted that the intense media scrutiny and public interest in the case had created a "reasonable likelihood" of prejudicial coverage, which could compromise a fair trial.
Kohberger, 28, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in connection with the November 13, 2022, stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The victims were found dead in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, sending shockwaves through the small college town.
The judge's decision comes as no surprise, given the intense media scrutiny and public interest in the case. The trial, expected to start in June 2025, will now be held in a yet-to-be-determined location, with another judge presiding. The administrative director of the courts will decide on a new location for the trial.
The defense had argued that the courthouse in Moscow lacked sufficient resources to manage the high-profile trial, including inadequate jury selection facilities and security concerns. The judge agreed, noting that the courthouse lacked enough clerks to manage the jury selection process and did not have enough space for the prosecution and defense teams.
Kohberger, a former Ph.D. student at Washington State University, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense team has maintained that he was simply driving in the area on the night of the murders and that his DNA was found at the scene due to innocent circumstances.
The case has captivated the nation, with many following the developments closely. The victims' families and friends have been seeking justice for the brutal murders, and the trial's outcome is eagerly awaited.
The investigation into the murders was led by the Moscow Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and other agencies. Kohberger was arrested in connection with the killings nearly seven weeks later while visiting family in Pennsylvania for the holidays.
Investigators allege they tied Kohberger to the killings by using DNA evidence found on a knife sheath left at the scene. According to a probable cause affidavit, Kohberger's phone pinged 12 times in the area of the house where the killings took place on at least 12 occasions prior to November 13, 2022.
As the trial approaches, attention will turn to the new location and the challenges of ensuring a fair trial. The judge's decision to move the trial is seen as a necessary step to ensure justice is served.
