Bryan Kohberger’s trial for the murders of four University of Idaho students in the town of Moscow will be held outside the city, a judge ruled Monday.
Idaho Second District Judge John C. Judge said media coverage of the case, along with statements from leaders in the city, meant it was unlikely Kohberger could get a fair trial in Moscow.
Judge Judge also said the court could have trouble finding an impartial jury and might not be able to handle the extensive media coverage of the case.
“While some of the coverage has been neutral reporting of the Court proceedings, much of the coverage has been sensationalized and prejudicial to Kohberger,” Judge wrote in his order.
idaho
Kohberger’s legal team had asked for the move in late August, largely making arguments the judge agreed with. Judge did not decide on a new location for the case, only ruling it would be moved out of Latah County’s small courthouse.
Kohberger, 29, faces four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves on Nov. 13, 2022. All four Idaho students were stabbed to death in an off-campus apartment.
At the time, Kohberger was a criminal justice Ph.D. student at Washington State University, about 10 miles west across the state line in Pullman. Though Kohberger did not officially enter a plea, the judge entered a not guilty pleas on his behalf.
The trial is scheduled to begin in June 2025 and last for around three months. Kohberger has been detained ahead of the proceedings.
With News Wire Services
Leave a comment