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A new mugshot for Bryan Kohberger was released after he was transferred to a different prison ahead of his murder trial.
Kohberger, 29, is facing four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. He allegedly fatally stabbed University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in 2022.
Kohberger was transferred to Ada County Sheriff custody after the Supreme Court of Idaho ruled that his murder trial will be moved to Ada County.
The new mugshot posted to the sheriff’s office website appears to show Kohberger with a beard in a red jail uniform.
Kohberger will be held at Ada County Jail in Boise, which can hold up to 1,116 inmates.
The trial was originally set to take place in Latah County, where the alleged crime took place. Kohberger’s legal team filed a motion for a change of venue, claiming that extensive media coverage of the case had affected potential jurors.
The motion was granted by Judge John Judge, of Idaho’s 2nd Judicial District in Latah County, who was presiding over the proceedings.
“Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating ‘a reasonable likelihood’ that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County,” Judge wrote in the ruling. “Thus, the court will grant Kohberger’s motion to change venue for presumed prejudice.”
He also stated that it would be “inconvenient” and “present serious safety risks” to hold the trial in Latah County.
“The interest of justice requires that the trial be moved to a venue with the resources, both in terms of personnel and space, necessary to effectively and efficiently handle a trial of this magnitude and length so that parties and the Court can focus on the case and not on peripheral issues,” Judge wrote.
The case was then referred to the administrative director of the courts before the state Supreme Court assigned the new venue.
Ada County is the largest county in Idaho with a population of nearly 495,000. Latah County has a population of around 39,500. The two counties are about a five-and-a-half-hour drive apart.
Supreme Court of Idaho Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan reassigned the case to District Judge Steven Hippler.
The trial is expected to begin on June 2, 2025.
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