MINOT, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – The trial of Nichole Erin Rice, accused of killing her roommate nearly 20 years ago in Minot, will be relocated to another county.
On Friday, June 7, Ward County Judge Richard Hagar granted the change of venue for the trial of 36-year-old Rice, meaning the proceedings will no longer be held in Ward County. The trial, originally scheduled for mid-July, is postponed until a new venue is selected.
Rice is charged with the murder of 18-year-old Anita Knutson, a Minot State University student, who was found dead with stab wounds in their Minot home on June 4, 2007. The locked door and a cut window screen suggested an attempt to stage a break-in. A pocket knife with dried blood was discovered near Knutson’s body.
Rice was arrested in early 2022 after a confession to her ex-boyfriend in 2008 or 2009 and reports of tension between the roommates surfaced. Despite pleading not guilty and claiming an alibi with her family, police questioned her account. The defense suggested a Montana man, reportedly seen running from the crime scene, could be the actual perpetrator.
Both prosecution and defense requested the trial be moved due to concerns over finding an impartial jury in Ward County. Jury questionnaires revealed a third of respondents believed Rice was guilty, and many had prior knowledge or opinions on the case, making fair trial prospects slim.
“The parties agree that … there is pervasive prejudice against (Rice) in Ward County which makes the selection of a fair and impartial jury in Ward County impossible,” the court filing stated.