A judge has agreed to move Bryan Kohberger’s trial out of the University of Idaho college town where he is accused of murdering four college students.
Judge John Judge issued the ruling after Kohberger’s lawyers successfully argued he could never geet a fair trial in Moscow, Idaho — and cited a local resident who threatened to “burn the courthouse down” if he was acquitted.
The defense team said a local jury would have a “presumed prejudice” because of the onslaught of media exposure they experienced and the emotional toll the tragedy had on the community around the University of Idaho.
Bryan Kohberger, right, is escorted into a courtroom to appear at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. APThe judge signed the decision last week, but it was only made public Monday.
“Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating ‘a reasonable likelihood’ that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County,” Judge wrote.
Dr. Brian Edelman — an expert called by Kohberger’s team — testified that he surveyed 400 residents of Latah County, finding 60% already believed Kohberger was guilty, and 52% thought he should get the death penalty. Some said they’d kill him themselves, or burn the courthouse down if he was found not guilty.
Final photo of the victims, pictured just hours before their untimely deaths.
Kohberger’s lawyers asked for the trial to be moved to Boise, in Ada County over 300 miles away — claiming the distance from the crime would allow for a less emotionally invested jury pool, with a lower percentage of exposure to reporting.
Meanwhile, prosecutors argued the defense’s data was flawed and claimed the change of venue would cause unnecessary disruption.
At the end of the Aug. 29 hearing, Judge said it would be the “most difficult decision” of his career.
The students were murdered in off-campus housing. James Keivom for NY Post
Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. Getty ImagesThe judge did not say where the trial — tentatively set for June 2025 — would take place, leaving it to the Gem State’s high court to decide.
Kohberger is accused of butchering students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022 inside their off-campus house.
Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.
The Latah County prosecutor’s office declined to comment citing a gag order in the case. Kohberger’s lawyer didn’t immediately return a request for comment Monday.
