An Idaho judge granted Bryan Kohberger’s request to move his quadruple murder trial from Latah County, Idaho, Court TV reports. The ruling cited presumed prejudice in the potential jury pool and Latah County’s ability to hold such a high-profile trial with limited resources and staffing. The ruling did not state where the trial, currently scheduled for June 2025, will be held. Court officials confirmed that the case will also get a new presiding judge. Kohberger is charged with the brutal murders of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves at their rental home near the University of Idaho.
Six weeks after they were stabbed to death, Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. For months, Kohberger’s attorneys have been fighting to have his trial moved from Latah County to Ada County, where Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell stood trial. After a recent hearing, Judge John Judge called the decision to move the trial one of the hardest decisions of his career. Last week, Kohberger’s defense filed over a dozen motions seeking to avoid a possible death penalty. His defense claims the methods by which the death penalty is carried out in Idaho are unconstitutional. Relatives of Kaylee Goncalves issued a statement saying they’re “incredibly disappointed in the judge’s ruling granting the change of venue.”
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