The man accused of stabbing four college students in Idaho has been granted his defense team’s request to change venues.
Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge did not specify where the trial would now take place. Judge said the accused – Bryan Kohberger – was unlikely to receive a fair trial in Moscow, the home of the University of Idaho, because of the case's extensive media coverage, misinformation on social media, and statements made by public officials.
“It is undisputed that there has been significant media coverage in this case throughout the State and nationally,” Judge wrote in a newly released court order dated Sept. 6, per AP News. “While some of the coverage has been neutral reporting of the Court proceedings, much of the coverage has been sensationalized and prejudicial to Kohberger.”
The judge also said the Latah County courthouse does not have enough clerks to oversee jury selection, that the space would be too small to accommodate the prosecution and defense, and that the only way for sensitive witnesses to enter the building would be through public entrances and hallways.
On Nov. 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death in an off-campus house – Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The women rented the home with two other female roommates who were unharmed. The Moscow Police Department determined the murder weapon was an “edged weapon such as a knife” but the item has never been recovered.
Investigators have estimated the attack occurred between 4 a.m. and 4:25 a.m.
Over 110 items of physical evidence were collected from the scene by law enforcement, including a leather knife sheath. On Dec. 7, investigators announced they were looking for the driver of a white Hyundai Elantra made between 2011 and 2013 that was spotted near the house on the night of the murders. They later said the vehicle was made between 2011 and 2016.
Police in Pennsylvania announced on Dec. 30 that they had arrested Kohberger at his parents’ home. An affidavit later says DNA found on the button strap of the knife sheath had DNA that was a “strong match” for DNA found in the trash outside the Kohberger residence, per CBS News.
Kohberger, who was extradited to Idaho and has pleaded not guilty, was a doctoral student at Washington State University, which is less than 10 miles from the location of the quadruple stabbing.
His defense team has called for a change of venue and suggested the trial be moved from Moscow to Boise. In their second request in August, the lawyers argued that “heightened emotions” in the small town could result in a “mob mentality” if Kohberger is acquitted.
“Kohberger’s team brought forth witnesses to testify on how media coverage and public sentiment could impact potential jurors, even if they believed they could be impartial,” reports NewsNation. “One witness also suggested that the high level of public emotion around the case could put pressure on jurors who might worry their identity would get out and would not want to have to return to the community and explain why they voted to acquit him.”
Prosecutors have counter-argued that jury bias could be eliminated by expanding the selection pool.
Kohberger’s trial is set to begin in June of next year and is expected to take three months.
