Murder suspect in brutal slaying of Idaho college students wins venue change

"As victims' families you are left to just watch like everyone else and really you have little rights or say in the process and at the same time you are the most invested in the outcome."

ADVERTISEMENT

"As victims' families you are left to just watch like everyone else and really you have little rights or say in the process and at the same time you are the most invested in the outcome."

ADVERTISEMENT
The Idaho Supreme Court has named a new venue and judge in the trial of quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger. Last week, the defense team was successful in its request to get their client’s trial moved to a new location with a different judge, Fox News reported. The Idaho Supreme Court ordered the student murders trial to move to Ada County from rural Latah County. Kohberger will also be moved from a jail in Moscow, ID to Ada.

Idaho's Chief Justice Richard Bevan signed the order putting District Judge Steven Hippler in charge of the case. Latah County District Judge John Judge agreed with the defense’s request to move the trial because a larger courthouse might be required for the throngs of journalists and spectators expected to attend.

The defense contends that "extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity” has tainted local opinion. The attorney for the murder suspect, accused of killing four students at the University of Idaho in 2022, had already attempted to have all charges against Kohbeger dismissed in 2023 on "grounds that the Grand Jury was misled as to the standard of proof required for an indictment."

Prosecutors did not want the trial moved, preferring the courthouse in Moscow that sits adjacent to the jail cell where Kohberger has sat without bail since police arrested him at his parents’ Pennsylvania house.

Kohberger is accused of killing four students who were renting off-campus housing in Moscow, Idaho. He allegedly went to the dwelling at 4 am on Nov. 13, 2022, and proceeded to stab to death 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves as well as 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

Kohberger was a PhD student in criminology at Washington State University at the time of the murder. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

Goncalves' family has opposed the change in venue but are approving of a new judge.

"What was the point of the non-dissemination order, private meetings, closed door tactics, allowing the Defendant to be dressed in a suit for every televised hearing etc … if not to keep the trial in Latah County?" the family said in a statement last week after the judge ordered the change in venue.

"As victims' families you are left to just watch like everyone else and really you have little rights or say in the process and at the same time you are the most invested in the outcome."
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in to comment

Comments

Powered by The Post Millennial CMS™ Comments

Join and support independent free thinkers!

We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.

Support The Post Millennial

Remind me next month

To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 The Post Millennial, Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information