Trial of Bryan Kohberger, accused of killings at the University of Idaho, moved to Ada County

The Idaho Supreme Court declared last week that the trial against Bryan Kohberger, the defendant Killing of four students at the University of Idahowould take place in Ada County, where the state capital Boise is located.

Kohberger's lawyers requested a change of venue Beginning of the yearThey argued that the small population and constant media coverage in Latah County, where the murders took place, would make a fair trial impossible.

In relation to the request, District Judge John Judge said said, “Professionally, this is probably the most difficult decision I have ever had to make.” Ultimately, judge allows the change of venueand cited concerns about safety, capacity and jury bias.

The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the victims, loudly expressed their disappointment.

“We have always believed that a fair and impartial jury could be found in Latah County and still believe that the trial should take place there to help the community heal,” the family said in a statement“The only good thing about this decision is that it will be Judge Richter's final decision in this case.”

It was up to the state Supreme Court to determine where to move the trial. It chose the state's most populous district, which is home to about half a million people.

“It seems that when there are big cases in Idaho, everyone thinks they can only be tried in Ada County,” says Shanon Gray, an attorney for the Goncalves family.

Gray said the family was surprised the trial was not moved to counties closer to Latah, such as Kootenai or Nez Perce, noting that the majority of people involved in the case, from police officers to witnesses, must travel more than six hours from the crime scene to Ada County.

Anyone who, like the Goncalves family, wants to spend the entire trial in prison must plan for six to eight weeks.

“As relatives of the victims, you just have to watch like everyone else and have hardly any rights or say in the proceedings,” said the family. “And at the same time, you are the one who has the greatest interest in the outcome of the proceedings.”

Kohberger was flown to Boise He will remain there on Sunday until the trial begins, which is provisionally scheduled for June next year.