ADA COUNTY, Idaho — The attorney representing Chad Daybell, the man accused of murdering his former wife and two of his current wife's children in 2019, filed a motion on Nov. 17 to keep his trial in Ada County.
The state had previously filed a motion to change the trial venue on Nov. 15 due to, what it claimed, were significant changes to circumstances after the original venue was set. The state prosecutors motion asked the Fremont County District Court to reconsider moving Daybell's trial back to Fremont County, or another county nearby.
All of Daybell's proceedings, other than his trial, are taking place in Fremont County because that is where the alleged crimes happened. Prosecutors argued the extensive media coverage from his wife's trial earlier this year created an environment in Ada county that would not allow for a fair and impartial jury in his trial. Further, they claimed Ada county is too saturated and expensive.
However, in its motion, the defense lists several reasons for objecting to the change in venue. Daybell's attorney does not think their choices in eastern Idaho would provide a better chance of an impartial trial. He accuses the state of "forum shopping" in order to gain an advantage in the upcoming trial and the prosecution of "last minute grandstanding" by delaying the trial with a change of venue.
As KTVB previously reported, Daybell's trial is set for April 1, 2024, at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise at 9 a.m.
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