Bryan Kohberger returns to Idaho court to plead for change of venue in student murder case

Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger will return to the Latah County Courthouse in Idaho at noon Thursday to attend a hearing on whether the location of his trial should be changed.

His defense team argues that a “mob mentality” in Latah County, where Kohberger is accused of brutally murdering four University of Idaho students in their home in November 2022, will lead to unfair jury selection and therefore an unfair trial for the 29-year-old defendant.

“The pressure to convict Bryan Kohberger is so great that respondents to the Latah County poll said if he was not convicted they would burn down the courthouse. Outrage would be an understatement,” the defense said in court documents filed last week, citing quotes from people in the community who were interviewed on the issue.

“'They'd probably find him and kill him.' 'There'd probably be a riot and he wouldn't stay out long because someone would get justice for the good old boy.' 'Angry strong opinions. Firing of officials.' 'Riots, parents would take care of him.'”

Trial of Bryan Kohberger in Idaho murder case begins in June 2025

Kohberger's defense attorneys also point to a strong media presence in Latah County, noting that there are currently 1,300 media reports on the University of Idaho murders.

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Kohberger – a former doctor of criminology. Student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington – is charged with four counts of murder and burglary after allegedly stabbing 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, 20-year-old Ethan Chapin, 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves and 21-year-old Madison Mogen with a KA-BAR knife in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022.

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Kohberger was arrested in late December 2022 at his family home in Pennsylvania. His trial is scheduled to take place in summer 2025 at the latest. Prosecutors are demand the death penalty.

Madison Mogen, top left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend Kaylee Goncalves as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and two other roommates in Goncalves' final Instagram post, shared a day before the stabbing of the four students. Insets: Judge John Judge, top, and suspected killer Bryan Kohberger. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram | August Frank/Pool via Reuters | Ted S. Warren/Pool via Reuters)

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“The media coverage flooding Latah County does not tell citizens that no evidence has been presented at this time; that there are no facts on the record at this time; that Bryan Kohberger is innocent; that only a jury will decide what the facts are and whether the facts are beyond a reasonable doubt [that] one person is guilty,” his defense team wrote.

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Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz and Christina Coulter contributed to this report.