As part of their argument to move Bryan Kohbgerger's trial out of Latah County, defense attorneys claim their client fears for his life as the prime suspect in the high-profile quadruple murder case that shocked the small Idaho college town.
Kohberger's team is hoping to convince District Judge John Judge on Thursday to allow the relocation of the June 2025 trial from Latah to Ada County, alleging an acquittal in the case – if tried in Latah – will likely result in his own murder.
Citing the results of a theoretical phone study of potential jurors in the Latah County area, the findings purportedly pointed to a general hostility and "mob mentality" toward the alleged killer, NBC News reported, citing court records.
According to the study, if a jury failed to convict Kohberger, respondents said they'd "burn the courthouse down" and that "they would probably find him and kill him."
Another said, "There would likely be a riot and he wouldn't last long outside because someone would do the good ole' boy justice."
In court documents obtained by the network, the defense argued, "The content (of the case) is not benign, rather, it is inflammatory, emotion-evoking and often misleading, false, and poorly sourced," she said. "There is no reasonable belief that media coverage will slow, regardless of how long the case takes to prepare for trial."
Earlier this week, the defense also requested access to specific evidence, according to a court filing.
Kohberger, 29, stands accused in the grisly slayings of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in their off-campus Moscow, Idaho apartment in November 2022.
The former criminal justice PhD student allegedly stabbed the foursome to death in the middle of the night while they slept, said authorities.
DNA evidence, surveillance footage and cell phone data allegedly tied Kohberger to the crime, and he was arrested six weeks later while visiting his parents in Pennsylvania, according to investigators.
As his alibi, Kohberger claimed he was out "stargazing" the night of the murders, and therefore couldn't be tied to the crime scene.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.
A motive remains under investigation.
