Bryan Kohberger, accused in the murders of four University of Idaho students, was transported by plane from Latah County to Ada County for his trial in June in Boise. The change of venue was ordered by the state Supreme Court due to concerns of potential jury bias in the smaller population of Latah County. The defense argued that intense pretrial publicity had created a “mob mentality” against Kohberger, making a fair trial unlikely in the original county. The reassignment of the case to a new district judge, Steven Hippler, was also confirmed.
Despite the change in location, prosecutors and Kohberger’s public defenders are expected to remain with the case through the trial in Ada County. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted, a decision that the defense is fighting against, stating that it would violate the U.S. Constitution. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for November. The trial is still set for next June, and details about DNA evidence, cellphone use, and security videos that connect Kohberger to the crime are expected to be presented.
Kohberger, arrested more than a month after the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, has entered a not guilty plea on four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. The motive behind the killings has not been publicly confirmed, and a gag order has been issued in the case, restricting those involved from speaking about it. Kohberger was a resident of nearby Pullman, Washington, and a doctoral student at Washington State University at the time of the murders.
The decision to move the trial to Ada County with a larger population of about half a million people was made to ensure a fair trial and prevent any potential jury bias in the case. The state Supreme Court’s ruling last week allowed for the change in venue and the appointment of a new district judge for the trial. The defense argued successfully for the change, citing concerns about the intense pretrial publicity and potential connections between Latah County residents and individuals involved in the case. The trial delay has been frustrating for some of the victims’ families, who wanted the case to remain in Latah County for local residents to serve as jurors.
Both the prosecution and defense teams are preparing their evidence and arguments for the trial scheduled for next June in Boise. The prosecution plans to present DNA evidence, cellphone data, and security videos linking Kohberger to the murders, while the defense is expected to challenge this evidence, suggesting that he was not in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the killings. With the hearing on the death penalty scheduled for November, the trial is expected to proceed with new district judge Steven Hippler overseeing the case in Ada County.
