MOSCOW, Idaho — A judge Wednesday pushed back his decision on a motion for change of venue filed by the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in 2022.
District Court Judge John Judge took up several motions Wednesday including the motion for change of venue.
Bryan Kohberger filed the motion in January to change the venue of the trial because of the "extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity" the case has received in Latah County.
Judge said he doesn't particularly want to change venue but wants to hear the defense's case.
"If it's sufficiently strong and persuasive, then maybe it makes sense to do that," said Judge. "We'll do what we need to do, but I'm not, as I sit here, I'm not persuaded that we necessarily have to change venue."
According to the motion, several factors surrounding the case make finding an impartial jury difficult, including the severity of the crimes and the small size of Latah County.
"The size of the community and the interconnectedness of its citizenry is problematic and will prevent a fair and impartial pool of potential jurors," the motion said in part. It goes on to state widening the jury pool won't do anything to overcome the "pervasive prejudicial publicity" because the community is too small to avoid bias.
"A fair and impartial jury cannot be found in Latah County owing to the extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity, allegations made about Mr. Kohberger to the public by media that will be inadmissible at his trial, the small size of the community, the salacious nature of the alleged crimes, and the severity of the charges Mr. Kohberger faces," the motion said.
Judge also further pushed back setting a trial date. Judge said he would determine the motion for a change of venue before formally setting a trial date. Attorneys also discussed deadlines for filings that would need to take place before a trial. It is increasingly likely a trial won't take place until the summer of 2025.
Kohberger is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of four students.
The students – Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington – were found stabbed to death Nov. 13, 2022 in a Moscow, Idaho rental house.
Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022.