Iowa Student Death Suspect Wants Trial Moved for Diversity

Cristhian Bahena Rivera wears headphones during his arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa., on Sept. 19, 2018. Kelsey Kremer/Des Moines Register via AP

MONTEZUMA, Iowa—The former farmhand charged with first-degree murder in the abduction and stabbing death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa wants to have his trial moved to a more diverse county.

The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s lawyers filed the motion Friday, March 1. They argue the Mexican national should be tried outside Poweshiek County to allow for more minority representation in the jury pool.