The Idaho Supreme Court has announced that the trial of a man charged in the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students will be moved to Boise, Idaho, approximately 300 miles away from the location of the crimes. The decision to transfer the trial, scheduled for June 2025, was made in response to concerns raised by 2nd District Judge John Judge regarding the potential for a fair trial in the university town of Moscow, Idaho.
The defendant, Bryan Kohberger, faces four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted. The four students were killed in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in a rental house near the University of Idaho campus.
As a result of the venue change, all trial proceedings will now take place at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, presided over by 4th District Judge Steven Hippler. The move to Boise offers larger courtrooms, space for overflow seating, enhanced security measures, and protected routes for sensitive witnesses, addressing concerns raised about the facilities in Moscow.
Kohberger's defense team requested the change of venue citing strong emotions in the local community and extensive media coverage that could impact the ability to impanel an impartial jury. Prosecutors, however, opposed the move, suggesting that a larger jury pool and careful questioning could address any potential bias issues.
The right to a fair trial and impartial jury is a fundamental principle protected by the U.S. Constitution, leading to the decision to relocate the trial. Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University, has maintained his silence in the case, with a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf by the judge.
Authorities have pointed to cellphone data, surveillance footage, and DNA evidence linking Kohberger to the crime scene. His defense team has argued that his presence in the victims' neighborhood was part of a routine drive to enjoy nature, and not connected to the murders. Kohberger was arrested six weeks after the killings at his parents' home in Pennsylvania.
