Idaho prosecutors oppose Bryan Kohberger's attempt to relocate trial.
Defense attorneys' request for a venue change is challenged by prosecutors in a detailed 22-page document.
Latah County prosecutors have opposed University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger's request to relocate his trial and change the venue.
The filing, signed by Bill Thompson, the Latah County prosecutor, and Ingrid Batey, a special assistant attorney general for the state, was made public on Tuesday evening.
"The defendant has filed a motion to relocate the trial from Latah County, where the offenses occurred, to Ada County, which is approximately 300 miles away. In support of his motion, he conducted a survey of potential jurors in Latah, Ada, Canyon, and Bannock counties."
The results of that survey did not warrant a change.
The data indicate that the widespread coverage of the case throughout Idaho has led to high recognition among survey respondents in all four counties, contradicting Defendant's claim that a Latah County jury pool has been uniquely exposed to an "utterly corrupted" environment.
The extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity in Latah County makes it impossible for Kohberger's lawyers to guarantee a fair trial for the suspected quadruple murderer.
Read the filing:
Why would the Court change venue to another county that has nearly the same media saturation as Latah County? — Bill Thompson and Ingrid Batey
The four young adults, aged 21 to 20, were brutally murdered by a large knife, resulting in multiple wounds for each victim, as per authorities.
In Pullman, Washington, a 29-year-old Pennsylvania criminology Ph.D. student named Kohberger was studying at Washington State University.
In the weeks after the murders, he drove cross-country with his dad and was arrested by police at his parents' house in the Pocono Mountains.
Latah County's seat is located in Moscow, Idaho, where The University of Idaho is situated.
Numerous filings have been made under seal and a restrictive gag order, with much of the case being conducted behind closed doors.
High-profile cases often involve a motion to move the trial, according to experts. While changes of venue are uncommon, they can occur.
The double murder trials of Lori Vallow, Idaho's "cult mom," and Scott Peterson, California's convicted murderer, both relocated from the counties where the crimes occurred.
At his arraignment in May, the judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. The trial is scheduled to start next year and may last up to 15 weeks.
Last week, the University of Idaho declared that it would hold a ceremony on Aug. 21 to dedicate a new installation in memory of the victims.
The Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial, created by students from the College of Art and Architecture, honors all students who have passed away while attending the university. The garden features a unique sculpture dedicated to the four victims of November 2022.
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