Defense for Bryan Kohberger, suspect in Moscow killings, argues for murder trial in Boise

Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman

MOSCOW (Idaho Statesman) — Ahead of a proceeding adjacent month, attorneys for Idaho student homicides fishy Bryan Kohberger person branded his prospects astatine a adjacent proceedings successful Moscow some an “extreme case” and “utterly corrupted” successful seeking a venue alteration to Boise for his upcoming trial.

In a tribunal filing made nationalist Tuesday afternoon, Kohberger’s nationalist defenders based on that their client’s law correct to an impartial assemblage will beryllium infringed upon without moving nan proceedings retired of Latah County, wherever nan crime occurred. In their ineligible brief, which runs 300-plus pages long, they cited arsenic further justification nan “extensive publicity that is ongoing and inflammatory,” including nan dissemination of inaccurate accusation successful nan news and connected societal media that would besides beryllium inadmissible astatine trial.

“The publicity has been highly pervasive successful nan mini organization of Latah County,” wrote Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s lead nationalist defender. “Remediations, specified arsenic enlarging nan assemblage pool, will not cure nan problem.”

Ada County, nan state’s largest region pinch much than 500,000 residents and location to nan capital, Boise, has “more than 10 times arsenic galore imaginable jurors than Latah County,” and gives Kohberger nan champion chance astatine an impartial jury, nan filing read.

“Latah County is, successful each regards, a nice, quaint close-knit organization that sticks together,” Taylor wrote. “While a small, close-knit organization is what is hoped for successful a mini town, law authorities must still beryllium cautiously protected. Mr. Kohberger has nan correct of a presumption of innocence; he is guaranteed nan protection of a adjacent assemblage and owed process of law.”

Kohberger, 29, is charged successful nan November 2022 stabbing deaths of 4 University of Idaho students, which person drawn sizeable attraction from crossed nan federation and world. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, each 21, inferior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, each 20.

Kohberger faces 4 counts of first-degree execution and 1 count of felony burglary successful nan case. Prosecutors intend to seek nan decease penalty for Kohberger if a assemblage convicts him.

PROSECUTION, VICTIM’S FAMILY OPPOSE MOVING TRIAL

Judge John Judge, of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District successful Latah County, will yet find whether to assistance nan requested venue alteration elsewhere successful Idaho. He had group a Monday deadline for Kohberger’s defense to record its arguments up of a scheduled Aug. 29 proceeding connected nan matter.

At that hearing, nan defense said it planned to telephone 4 witnesses. They see a proceedings advisor nan defense hired to survey prospective jurors to warrant nan alteration of venue, a study researcher, a societal scientist who studies bias and a media analyst.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, who is starring nan lawsuit against Kohberger, has said he opposes moving nan proceedings retired of Moscow. The defense’s claims astir publicity of nan high-profile lawsuit don’t support sending it elsewhere successful nan state, he antecedently said.

“I don’t deliberation that a alteration of venue is going to lick immoderate of these problems,” Thompson told nan tribunal astatine a proceeding earlier this year. “The state’s position connected venue is that nan lawsuit should beryllium held here. It’s a Latah County case. We judge that we tin prime an due sheet of jurors from Latah County.”

His general reply to nan defense’s latest filing is due by Aug. 12. Kohberger’s defense squad whitethorn submit a rebuttal a week later.

If Judge were to assistance nan venue alteration for Kohberger’s proceedings — to Ada County aliases elsewhere — he besides has nan prime connected whether he keeps nan duty and stays pinch nan case, nether Idaho criminal rules. If, however, he decided to withdraw, nan Idaho Supreme Court would prime nan judge to switch him.

Last month, Judge set a commencement date for Kohberger’s superior execution proceedings of June 2025. The proceedings would beryllium held successful Latah County, wherever nan crime took place, if Judge does not assistance nan defense’s request for a venue change complete concerns astir section juror bias against their client.

Through their attorney, nan family of Kaylee Goncalves said past period successful a connection to nan Idaho Statesman that they approved of mounting a proceedings day aft 13 months of waiting since Kohberger’s May 2023 arraignment. But they besides noted their desire for Kohberger’s proceedings to enactment successful Moscow, wherever he has remained jailed since January 2023.

“We are hopeful nan proceedings stays successful Latah County truthful arsenic not to disrupt nan scheduling order, and we are praying for nary much delays,” nan connection read.

In their filing, Kohberger’s attorneys besides based on that logistics besides warranted moving nan high-profile lawsuit to nan Ada County Courthouse successful Boise, wherever abstracted execution tests for Lori Vallow Daybell and hubby Chad Daybell were held. Compared to Latah County, nan size of nan courtroom successful Ada County offers capable abstraction and an overflow area for nan ample magnitude of nan nationalist who are expected to want to watch nan trial, they wrote.

In addition, nan Ada County Courthouse offers due information for each parties, including jurors, Kohberger’s defense wrote. And entree to nan state’s largest airdrome will beryllium important for nan apt extended lists of witnesses walking successful and retired of municipality for what is scheduled to beryllium a 14-week proceedings pinch imaginable sentencing, moving from June 2 to Aug. 29, 2025.