Idaho
Defense for Bryan Kohberger says 'mob mentality' justifies moving venue of Idaho murders trial
Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, argue that a severe “mob mentality” against him within the community is sufficient justification for moving the trial out of Latah County, new court documents show.
In a filing on Monday, the defense countered the state’s objection to their request for a change of venue by presenting a telephone survey conducted by a defense expert, which revealed hostility toward Kohberger from Latah County residents.
When asked what their response would be if Kohberger was not convicted, one person said, “There would likely be a riot and he wouldn’t last long outside because someone would do the good ole’ boy justice.”
Others said that “they’d burn the courthouse down” and “they would probably find him and kill him.”
The defense argued that the “often inaccurate and inflammatory” media coverage in Latah County would condition potential jurors to think Kohberger was guilty. The survey indicated that individuals who were more exposed to media coverage were more likely to prejudge Kohberger as guilty, and Latah County has the most media coverage per person in the state.
Despite the state’s proposal to move the jury pool to the neighboring Nez Perce County, the defense contended that this would not solve the issue, as Nez Perce County residents were exposed to the same media coverage as those in Latah County.
Instead, Kohberger’s attorneys proposed moving the trial to Ada County, home to Idaho’s capital city, Boise. According to the defense’s survey, Ada County residents appeared to have a lower emotional connection to the case. When asked how they would feel if Kohberger were found not guilty, responses included “they would go on with life as always” and “I think they would accept it.”
The defense also rejected the proposed solution of vetting jurors, citing precedent that shows vetting alone is insufficient to ensure impartiality. Sequestering the jury, another proposed solution, would be “unnecessary and untenable.”
“The traumatized town of Moscow is understandably filled with deeply held prejudgment opinions of guilt,” the defense attorneys said in concluding their argument.
The two sides will present their arguments to the judge on August 29.
Kohberger, who was a doctoral student at Washington State University studying criminology, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary after prosecutors say he broke into an off-campus house near the University of Idaho and fatally stabbed four students. Kohberger was arrested nearly seven weeks later and a possible motive remains unclear.
The state says it has linked Kohberger to the murders through DNA evidence, cellphone signals and security videos, while the defense has submitted an alibi.
The state will pursue the death penalty at Kohberger’s trial, which is set for June 2025.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Shanea Fulks is the owner of Seven Sisters Closet Revival, a new consignment store at 260 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls. Take a look inside in the video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
IDAHO FALLS
New consignment shop in Idaho Falls offers vintage clothes for customers and booth space for sellers
IDAHO FALLS – Curating vintage clothing is Shanea Fulks’s passion, and she’s sharing it with the community through a new business venture.
Seven Sisters Closet Revival opens Saturday at 260 South Woodruff inside Parkwood Plaza in Idaho Falls. It offers racks of vintage clothes for customers and booth space for others to sell their items.
“You get a rack with shelves, and you can come in throughout the week and sell things,” Fulks tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The things you’ll see in the middle of the store are pieces that I have curated. I hand-pick all the things I bring to the store.”
See some of the items in the video above.
Fulks says she’s had multiple people walk in already who are excited about the shop.
The store will have a grand opening this weekend. Fulks is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting and open house at noon on Friday. A local band will be performing during the event.
Then on Saturday, a grand opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Several vendors and live entertainment will be available. Fulks says she’s looking forward to interacting with the community.
Fulks has been selling items from her personal collection online for years. After helping a mother and daughter find a formal dress during an interaction at another shop in town several years ago, Fulks says she realized there was a need for a store like this.
After about a year of working with real estate agents, Fulks says the Parkwood Plaza space formerly occupied by a beauty salon called Blush became available, and it was an ideal fit.
“It’s just been a whirlwind and we’re just trying to get it going,” says Fulks.
Fulks’ interest in fashion stems back to childhood. She lost her dad and stepdad to suicide at a young age and grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. As a result, she says they bought clothes at Goodwill and other secondhand stores.
She remembers being made fun of because of the clothes she wore. In time, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and developed an interest in vintage clothes.
“I’ve just always been attracted to old sweaters, military jackets (her dad served in Vietnam),” Fulks says. “I like to help people feel confident wearing something unique, even if it’s not trendy. Be bold and wear whatever you want.”
The idea of making the most of your circumstances and embracing who you are is inspired by her experience with suicide, and it’s reflected in the art that’s on display in her store.
“Part of the theme in my store is ‘Stay. We need you,’” she says.
The business name refers to her family. She comes from a blended family of six girls and four boys. When she and her husband were married, they had a daughter — the seventh sister.
Fulks says she’s looking forward to offering great deals to customers. She has two sons with autism who love art, and she wants to host art-themed events for people with special needs. She’d also like to host tea parties and other events in the future.
“I want people to come and feel like they belong,” she says. “I’m going to allow people to do karaoke. When you’re here, I want you to feel like you can have fun.”
Seven Sisters Closet Revival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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Gov. Brad Little has signed House Bill 533, which would remove the need for license plate stickers on Idaho vehicles.
The legislation, introduced earlier this session by Rep. Jon Weber (R) of Boise, eliminates the requirement for registration stickers on Idaho license plates. Weber stated during the bills intorduction that officers can verify the status of license plates without the stickers, potentially saving the state around $300,000.
During the bill’s introduction, some lawmakers argued that it could increase the workload for law enforcement.
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The new law is set to take effect in July.
For the second year in a row, House lawmakers will consider urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
The nonbinding resolution, which carries no legal weight, says the decision in Obergefel v. Hodges violates the longstanding religious definition of marriage between one man and one woman.
“The current definition of marriage that allows for same-sex marriages is a defilement of the word marriage,” said Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls), who sponsors the measure.
The resolution further states that the Obergefel decision “arbitrarily and unjustly” rejects the historical definition of marriage.
Idaho voters passed a constitution amendment in 2006 that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, which was invalidated by the Obergefel ruling.
Wisniewski said regulating marriages should be a power left to the states.
Rep. Brent Crane (R-Nampa) agrees.
“If you want to get things … closer to the people with respect to some of these more complex social issues, I think the best place for those things to happen is in the states,” Crane said.
Doing so is a risk, he said.
“You may have states that choose to acknowledge [polyamorous relationships]. You may have states that choose to have relationships between adults and younger children,” Crane said.
Cities in neighboring Oregon and Washington, for example, are considering giving those in polyamorous relationships legal recognition.
But he said that risk is worth it to allow other states that choose to only recognize traditional marriages.
Four lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee opposed the resolution.
Rep. Erin Bingham (R-Idaho Falls) said she’s tried to balance her own religious beliefs with those of others while considering the measure.
“I do feel like that it is important for us to work together, to find ways to compromise and to live together in peace and mutual respect,” Bingham said.
The resolution now goes to the House floor for consideration.
House lawmakers last year passed a similar measure, but it never received a hearing in a Senate committee.
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