An Idaho judge has ruled that Chad Daybell’s upcoming murder trial will be livestreamed, following requests from the defence and several media outlets to broadcast the proceedings.
Judge Steven Boyce made the decision during a motions hearing on Wednesday, amending his previous camera ban that was put in place last year.
The trial, which is expected to last eight to 10 weeks, will be livestreamed with some restrictions, Judge Boyce said. The stream will be from the court’s cameras, meaning no media outlets will be able to carry it.
Daybell’s highly-anticipated trial is set to start on 1 April 2024 for the murders of Lori Vallow’s children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and Daybell’s former wife, Tammy Daybell.
His defence attorney John Prior filed a motion last year requesting cameras in the courtroom.
“Cameras keep everybody honest,” Mr Prior said in court on Wednesday. “It keeps the system honest. It keeps the witnesses honest. It keeps everyone honest.”
At the time, Mr Daybell and Vallow’s cases were joined and Judge Boyce denied the request. The cases were severed, and the judge scheduled today’s hearing to revisit the issue. He said Mr Prior made a compelling argument for the cameras – noting that having cameras would allow family members to watch off-site.
“The difficulty of moving a trial 350 miles from where we are certainly creates restrictions on individuals who would like to attend,” Judge Boyce said.
Earlier this year, Vallow’s gruelling six-week trial was held at the Ada County Courthouse without cameras. Only the verdict was allowed to be livestreamed through the judge’s YouTube page.
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