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CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Defense lawyers for Joel Courtney have asked that he be tried in another county for the killing of Brigham Young University student Brooke Wilberger.
His lawyers gave no reason for the motion, common in high-profile cases.
Courtney is scheduled for trial next year in Benton County, charged with murder, rape and kidnapping. Wilberger disappeared at 19 from a parking lot near Oregon State University. Her body has not been found.
The change-of-venue motion was one of 20 filed Wednesday by the defense lawyers. They also seek to bar the prosecution from challenging jury selections based on religion, require an unanimous vote for a guilty finding, and suppress seizure and use of Courtney's "biological samples."
Prosecutors said the motions were expected and responses are forthcoming.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
