Defense asks judge to reconsider change of venue

By KVAL.com staff Published: Jul 14, 2009 at 4:07 PM PST
Defense asks judge to reconsider change of venue
Joel Courtney is accused of aggravated murder in the case of Brooke Wilberger, then 19, who vanished from outside an apartment building near the OSU campus May 24, 2004.

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The man accused of kidnapping and murdering a Veneta woman here in 2004 might stand trial in Corvallis after all.

Last week, a judge granted a request by attorneys for Joel Courtney for a change of venue.

On Friday, the court will hear a request by the same attorneys to reconsider that order.

Courtney is accused of kidnapping Brooke Wilberger in Corvallis and murdering her.

Wilberger, then 19, vanished from outside a Corvallis apartment on May 24, 2004. Her body has not been found.