Bryan Kohberger, the 29-year-old criminologist accused of a quadruple home invasion murder, is set to undergo a change of scenery after spending over 18 months in the Latah County Jail in Moscow, Idaho. The Idaho Supreme Court has decided to move Kohberger's trial to Ada County, assigning District Judge Steven Hippler to preside over the case and ordering Kohberger's transfer to a jail closer to the Boise courthouse.
Ada County was chosen for the trial due to its larger courthouse, capable of accommodating a significant number of spectators and reporters expected to attend Kohberger's trial, scheduled to commence next year. Judge Hippler, known for handling high-profile murder cases, brings a wealth of experience to this trial.
Judge Hippler has presided over various notable cases, including a recent trial involving a fatal prison beating and sentencing a drunken driver to life in prison for intentionally striking pedestrians. In past cases, such as the murder trial of David Randall and the sentencing of the parents of 9-year-old Emrik Osuna, Hippler has demonstrated a firm stance on justice.
Ada County, Idaho's most populous county, encompasses the city of Boise, the state capital, with nearly 500,000 residents compared to Latah County's population of less than 40,000. The decision to move the trial from Latah County was made following concerns raised by the defense about biased community sentiment and media coverage.
Kohberger stands accused of entering a rental home in November 2022 and allegedly murdering four University of Idaho students. The victims, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were all students at the university. Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, located nearby, faces charges of first-degree murder and felony burglary.
At his arraignment in May 2023, Kohberger pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted, while the defense is seeking to have this option removed from consideration.
The trial is expected to proceed as scheduled in June 2025, with Judge Hippler likely to establish clear timelines and deadlines for the proceedings. The move to Ada County aims to ensure a fair trial for Kohberger, away from the perceived biases in Latah County.
