The judge in Bryan Kohberger's case paused a hearing on a potential change of venue for his capital murder trial after a defense expert presented social media content in court. Kohberger, a former Washington State University graduate student, is accused of killing four University of Idaho students and is set to go to trial in June 2025.
Judge John Judge, overseeing the case in Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District, heard arguments on whether the trial should remain in Latah County, where the crime occurred. Three expert witnesses testified, including Brian Edelman from Trial Innovations, a jury consultancy firm hired by the defense to survey the knowledge and opinions of potential jurors in Latah County.
During his testimony, Edelman displayed a screen recording of Facebook posts discussing the case by searching “Moscow murders.” The content included groups, posts, and videos that often contained sensational language or speculative details. Concerned about the impact of these displays, Judge Judge halted the hearing, which was live-streamed on YouTube, saying, "I don’t think we need to advertise all these, honestly. We’ve been trying to protect from this kind of stuff."
Kohberger’s lead public defender, Anne Taylor, requested a private discussion following the incident. After a brief pause, the court reconvened, and Judge Judge announced a one-hour lunch break. He decided that the first 15 minutes after the recess would not be streamed to the public, allowing only the victims’ families to view via Zoom, citing a need to avoid broadcasting sensitive content.
Kohberger's defense team is pushing for a venue change, arguing that extensive media coverage has created a "mob mentality" in Latah County, preventing a fair trial. They suggest moving the trial to Boise, Idaho's capital, to access a less biased jury pool. The defense's argument is supported by a survey conducted by a trial consultant, although it faced criticism for potentially influencing the local jury pool.
Prosecutors oppose moving the trial, arguing that pretrial publicity is common in high-profile cases and does not justify a venue change under Idaho law. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson proposed alternatives, such as an expanded jury pool, to maintain fairness.
Judge Judge will decide whether to approve the venue change, and if granted, he may continue overseeing the case or withdraw due to the change, as allowed by Idaho law.
Bryan Kohberger, 29, faces four counts of first-degree murder for the November 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if he is convicted, with a hearing on potential challenges scheduled for early November. The outcome of the venue debate will significantly impact the trial’s proceedings.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at
https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com