Bryan Kohberger's defense team successfully argued for a change of venue, citing the potential for a "mob mentality" in Latah County, Idaho, where the quadruple murder trial was initially scheduled to be held.
Idaho's Chief Justice Richard Bevan has ordered the transfer of Bryan Kohberger's murder trial to Ada County, the state's most populous county that includes the capital city of Boise. The move comes after Kohberger's defense attorneys expressed concerns that the local jury pool in Latah County, where the murders occurred, could be biased due to extensive media coverage and public sentiment.
Kohberger, a 29-year-old criminology student, is accused of entering a six-bedroom rental home at 4 a.m. on November 13, 2022, and killing four University of Idaho students with a large knife: Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, also 20.
Kohberger Trial Moved to Ada County Amid Concerns of "Mob Mentality" in Moscow
In a one-page order signed by Bevan, the state's high court appointed District Judge Steven Hippler to preside over the trial and ordered Kohberger's transfer to a jail closer to the Boise courthouse. Ada County's courthouse has a larger capacity to accommodate the expected large gallery of reporters and members of the public.
Judge Hippler is an experienced trial judge who has handled high-profile murder cases in the past. Last month, he oversaw the trial of a brutal prison beating that resulted in the victim's death from injuries sustained in the hospital. He also handed down a life sentence to a drunken driver who intentionally struck two pedestrians, one fatally.
Kohberger Trial Moved to Ada County Amid Concerns of "Mob Mentality" in Moscow
In 2023, Hippler presided over the conclusion of the murder case against David Randall, who tortured and beat his ex-girlfriend before stabbing her to death. The killer initially pleaded guilty in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, but later attempted to withdraw his plea. Hippler rejected his arguments and sentenced him to life in prison with a chance for parole after 25 years.
While Hippler has generally agreed with prosecutors' sentencing requests, he has not imposed a death penalty. Prosecutors in Kohberger's case have stated their intention to seek the death penalty, which the defense is contesting.
Kohberger Trial Moved to Ada County Amid Concerns of "Mob Mentality" in Moscow
Ada County is the largest county in Idaho, with nearly 500,000 residents compared to less than 40,000 in Latah County. Legal experts in Boise anticipate that Judge Hippler will establish clear timelines and deadlines for the trial, which is currently scheduled for June 2025.
Kohberger's defense team had argued that the local community and media attention in Latah County had created an atmosphere that could potentially jeopardize his right to a fair trial. The defense claimed that he could face a "lynch mob" mentality if acquitted.
Kohberger Trial Moved to Ada County Amid Concerns of "Mob Mentality" in Moscow
The state's Supreme Court ultimately granted the defense's request for a change of venue, leaving it up to the court to determine the appropriate location. Ada County was included on a list of three larger counties that the defense had indicated it would accept.
Kohberger is currently being held without bail in the Latah County Jail since his arrest in Pennsylvania at his parents' house in December 2022. He faces four charges of first-degree murder and one felony burglary charge.
Kohberger Trial Moved to Ada County Amid Concerns of "Mob Mentality" in Moscow
