The suspect in the murders of four University of Idaho students is asking for his trial to be moved to Boise, Idaho, to give him a fairer trial.
Brian Koberger, the man accused of carrying out a highly publicized mass murder in Latah County in 2022, says media coverage alleging his guilt has saturated the area before his trial.
“The frequent media coverage in Latah County is not just a passing news story,” Koberger’s public defender, Ann Taylor, said Tuesday. “The content is not harmless; rather, it is inflammatory, emotive, often misleading, false and poorly sourced.”
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Brian Koberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. (August Frank/Pool via Reuters)
“It’s unreasonable to think that any amount of time spent preparing for trial would slow down media coverage,” Taylor continued.
Four college students were killed in the robbery at 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022: Madison Mogen (21), Kaylee Gonsalves (21), Zana Kernodle (20), and Ethan Chapin (20).
Police found a Kabal knife sheath underneath Morgen’s body, which allegedly had Koberger’s DNA on the tip of the sheath.
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Madison Morgen (top left) leans on her best friend Kaylee Gonsalves’ shoulder and smiles with Ethan Chapin, Zana Kernodle and two other housemates in Gonsalves’ final Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)
According to court documents, investigators also tracked Koberger’s Hyundai Elantra as it weaved through the area on its way to and from the crime scene.
The defense has accused the prosecution of delaying disclosure of evidence, and the trial has already been delayed for more than a year.
“Latah County, Idaho, is a small, tight-knit community. The findings are indicative of a community where convictions and death sentences are more likely to occur,” Taylor wrote in his motion for change of venue.
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Brian Koberger appeared at a status hearing in Latah County District Court in Moscow, Idaho. (Kai Eiselein/Pool via Reuters)
She added, “Some of the major employers in the area are associated with law enforcement and the University of Idaho.”
Coburger’s face four Fee He is charged with first-degree murder and burglary and could face the death penalty if convicted.
He is scheduled to appear in court again in August for a hearing on his defense’s motion for a change of venue.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Lewis contributed to this report.
