Deseret News, Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Weitzel's lawyers want a move

Attorneys for psychiatrist Robert Weitzel want his trial moved to Salt Lake County because they contend he cannot get a fair trial due to pretrial publicity and his "outsider" status in "close-knit" Davis County.

This motion, and others submitted by prosecutors, will be argued June 21.

Weitzel's attorneys argue that Weitzel, a Texas native, never lived in Davis County, is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is divorced and currently living with his girlfriend — all things that set him apart from a potential jury pool.

"Robert Weitzel's background and lifestyle make him different from most residents of Davis County," the motion says.

"Although the community is not particularly small with regard to population, the community tends to be more rural and close-knit than the neighboring county of Salt Lake," and crimes such as murder or manslaughter are more rare than in Salt Lake County, the motion says.

The motion also says the Davis County Clipper is the only written publication that covers Davis County exclusively, and an online check with the Standard-Examiner in Ogden showed 98 items related to Weitzel.

"Even without considering the television coverage in this matter, there is no question that the communities of Davis County have been saturated with news about this case," the motion says. "The community has been so inundated with information about this case that the defendant will be unable to get a fair trial."

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