The capital murder trial of Ryan Coari, accused of a Sept. 1, 2011, double homicide of two rural Auxvasse residents, has been moved from Callaway County to Boone County.
The change came on a motion by Coari's defense attorney, Public Defender Donald Catlett of Columbia, who specializes in providing public defender services in first-degree murder charges involving the death penalty.
Missouri law allows a change in venue to be granted automatically from counties with a population of less than 75,000.
Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson had expected either a change in venue for the trial or importing a jury from another county.
Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler also ordered defense and prosecuting attorneys to discuss and attempt to agree on a questionnaire to be given to potential jury members.
The court ordered a review of the case on Sept. 13 to consider a possible timetable for setting the trial.