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Exchange Student Shooting Trial Stays in Missoula

Defense wanted Mineral County jurors be brought to Missoula

By Justin Franz

The trial of a man charged with shooting and killing a German exchange student in his garage will remain in Missoula.

District Judge Ed McLean on Thursday rejected a second motion by defense attorneys to move the deliberate homicide trial of Markus Kaarma.

Kaarma’s attorneys argue news coverage of the shooting has been inaccurate and failed to mention that 17-year-old Diren Dede was committing a crime by being in Kaarma’s garge.

The defense had asked that the case be heard in Superior, that Mineral County jurors be brought to Missoula or that members of the jury pool be surveyed to determine whether prejudice against Kaarma exists in Missoula County.

McLean agreed to allow the defense team to prepare a survey for potential jurors to find out what they know about the case.