MOSCOW, Idaho — The defense for the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022 provided a list of experts who will testify in support of their motion to change trial venues in August.
Bryan Kohberger’s defense provided the list in a filing on Tuesday alongside a 319-page memorandum in support of the motion. That letter of support includes written support from some of the four experts who plan to testify and others who aren’t set to be called as witnesses
Each of the four experts will likely answer questioning from both the defense and prosecution on the issue of what Kohberger’s defense attorney Anne Taylor has called bias in Latah County.
One of those set to testify, Bryan Edelman with jury research consulting firm Trial Innovations, has previously spoken in court when jury surveys he conducted came under fire. Ultimately, , the final analysis of which can be found in the court filing.
Amani El-Alayli, an Eastern Washington University professor of psychology, is another expert set to testify.
In the defense’s filing on Tuesday, El-Alayli also said he supports a change of venue, a conclusion he came to after reviewing Edelman’s jury research.
El-Alayli noted Edleman’s research found many Latah County residents who were exposed to news reporting on the case were likely to prejudge Kohberger as being guilty.
“If these residents were to serve as jurors, they could not be expected to evaluate information objectively during the trial,” El-Alayli said.
El-Alayli provided additional academic context for Edleman’s findings, arguing a host of psychological phenomenon backed by studies suggests it would be unlikely for Latah County District Court to field an unbiased slate of jurors.
“Research has yet to determine a reliable method for eliminating pretrial publicity bias effects after exposure has occurred, suggesting that limiting potential jurors’ exposure in the first place would be the best avenue in the pursuit of a fair trial,” El-Alayli said. “This is why change of venue and non-dissemination orders have such importance.”
