Idaho Supreme Court issues decision on venue change for Kohberger murder trial

Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — The Idaho Supreme Court issued its determination Thursday connected wherever nan proceedings of Bryan Kohberger will beryllium held, and besides assigned a caller judge to nan case.

Kohberger’s trial, and each further proceedings, will beryllium held astatine nan Ada County Courthouse successful Boise and presided complete by Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler, nan justices said. His proceedings is group to return spot adjacent year, betwixt June 2 and August 29.

The Supreme Court besides ordered that Kohberger beryllium transferred to nan Ada County Jail and put into nan custody of nan Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

Judge John Judge of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District successful Latah County granted Kohberger’s petition for a venue alteration past week, handing nan defense a important triumph successful nan ineligible process.

Kohberger, 29, is charged pinch 4 counts of first-degree execution and 1 count of felony burglary successful nan November 2022 fatal stabbings of 4 University of Idaho students astatine an off-campus location successful Moscow. The victims were Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, some 20, and Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, some 21.

Kohberger stood silent erstwhile asked to participate a plea astatine his arraignment. As a result, Judge entered not blameworthy to each of nan charges connected Kohberger’s behalf.

Prosecutors intend to activity nan decease punishment if Kohberger is convicted by a jury. His defense past week revenge a number of challenges to region superior reward arsenic a imaginable sentence, and a tribunal proceeding connected nan rumor is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 7 successful Moscow.

Prosecutors objected to a venue change, arguing it was not “necessary aliases convenient,” which are elements that must beryllium met to warrant moving a trial, according to Idaho criminal rules. The defense, meanwhile, alleged nan level of pretrial publicity successful nan lawsuit — astir of it prejudicial against Kohberger — meant he couldn’t get a adjacent proceedings successful nan organization wherever nan crime took place. His attorneys specifically sought a move to Boise.

Per Idaho’s criminal rules, Judge near nan determination of nan proceedings location to nan Idaho Supreme Court. He besides near it up to nan Idaho Supreme tribunal to delegate a caller judge aft citing Idaho codification that indicated his desire not to proceed connected pinch nan trial.