Murder In Moscow: Judge John Judge Grants Kohberger's Request For Change In Venue (9/10/24)

Beyond The Horizon

Judge John Judge has granted a request to move the trial of Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, out of Moscow, Idaho. This decision was made due to concerns about the overwhelming pretrial publicity in the small community, which Kohberger's defense argued would prevent him from receiving a fair trial. Kohberger's defense cited a "mob mentality" in Moscow, arguing that many local residents already held strong opinions about his guilt.
Judge Judge acknowledged that logistical and safety concerns also played a role in his decision, emphasizing that the local courthouse in Moscow might not be equipped to handle a trial of this scale. He left the decision on where the trial will be moved to the Idaho Supreme Court, which will assign both a new venue and a presiding judge.
The prosecution had opposed the change of venue, arguing that it was unnecessary, but Judge Judge ruled that moving the trial would better serve the interests of justice, given the extensive media coverage and local sentiment. The trial is now scheduled for June 2025, and Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted.
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Judge in Idaho student murder trial grants change of venue | Idaho Statesman