Lawyers representing the individual accused of the tragic stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students are requesting a change of venue for his murder trial due to concerns over biased media coverage and public interest in the case. Anne Taylor, a public defender for Bryan Kohberger, argues that the intense and often misleading media attention in Latah County makes it impossible for him to receive a fair trial.
The defense is advocating for the trial to be relocated to Boise to ensure Mr. Kohberger’s constitutional right to a fair trial. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, however, opposes the move, citing the national and international attention the case has garnered and its potential impact on juror familiarity.
A hearing is scheduled for August 29 to further discuss the matter. Mr. Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University, stands accused of fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow.
Mr. Kohberger was apprehended six weeks after the incident at his parents’ residence in Pennsylvania, where investigators connected him to the crime through DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and cellphone records. Despite the allegations, he maintains his innocence, claiming he was driving alone on the night of the murders, as he often did.
The trial is tentatively scheduled for June 2025, pending Judge John C. Judge’s decision on whether to keep it in Moscow or relocate it to Boise. Ms. Taylor argues that the small, close-knit community of Latah County may harbor preconceived notions of guilt and favor harsh sentencing due to the influence of law enforcement and the University of Idaho.
By Martha Bellisle
