An Idaho judge has ordered that the trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, be moved to a different city.
In an order issued on Friday, Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge expressed concerns about Kohberger’s ability to receive a fair trial at the Latah County courthouse in Moscow.
He cited extensive media coverage and public statements implying the defendant’s guilt, as well as logistical issues, stating that “the courthouse isn’t large enough to accommodate the case, and the county sheriff’s office lacks sufficient deputies to manage security.” The judge did not specify the new trial location, as reported by Associated Press.
Kohberger’s defence team requested the change, arguing that intense emotions within the tight-knit community, combined with relentless media coverage, would make it impossible to find an impartial jury in Moscow, where the killings occurred.
Prosecutors, however, suggested that any potential bias could be addressed by selecting a larger pool of jurors and rigorously questioning them.
Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves.
The students were found murdered in a rental house near the University of Idaho campus in the early hours of 13 November 2022.
Police arrested Kohberger six weeks later at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was spending his winter break.
The case has deeply shaken the small city of Moscow and generated significant media attention, which Kohberger’s defence argues has unfairly biased the community against him.
(with inputs from AP)
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