Lawyers for a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in late 2022 are seeking a change of venue, arguing he could not receive a fair trial in the area where the murders occurred.
Brian Koberger’s lead public defender, Ann Taylor, told Judge John of the 2nd Judicial District of Lutter County, Idaho, this week to hear arguments on the possible move no later than the end of April. A request was made to schedule a public hearing, the Idaho Statesman reported.
“Due to the extensive and inflammatory pretrial publicity, the media’s inadmissible claims about Mr. Koberger at trial, and the small size and vile nature of the community, we are unable to find a fair and impartial jury in Latah County. “The nature of the alleged crimes and the severity of the charges Mr. Koberger faces,” Taylor wrote.
Brian Koberger, 29, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University near Pullman, Washington, arrested Ethan Chapin, Zana Kernodle, Madison Morgen and Kaylee Gonsalves at a rented house near the university campus. He was charged with four counts of murder in the death of a man. Last year in Moscow, Idaho. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if convicted.
Lutter County Prosecutor Bill Thompson told a judge last week that he opposed a change of venue, saying the case took place in Lutter County and deserved a chance to serve a jury first. He said moving the trial elsewhere would not have a significant impact on potential jurors’ familiarity with the case, as the trial already had national and international notoriety. Ta.
“It’s not Moscow or Latah County, it’s everywhere,” Thomson said. “So I don’t think a change of venue will solve these problems.”
