MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — There are new details in the trial of a woman accused of killing her roommate.

Earlier this month, Nichole Rice’s trial was canceled, which was originally set for July, and KX News has learned when and where it’s going to happen.

Judge Richard Hagar approved the change of venue request after state prosecutors and Rice’s defense team both agreed a fair and impartial jury would be hard to come by in Ward County.

And just this week, the courts set a new date for trial in Grand Forks County.

This change is something many people did see coming because of the publicity surrounding the case.

But let’s back up a little.

18-year-old Anita Knutson was found fatally stabbed in the apartment that she and Rice shared back in 2007.

After years of trying to find justice for the Knutson family, police were unable to make an arrest due to a lack of evidence.

However, police say Rice has always remained a person of interest. The case went cold for nearly 15 years.

That is until the crime investigation TV series, Cold Justice, stepped in to help solve the mystery.

In the episodes that were filmed in Minot, investigators went over years of case files and evidence and decided to re-interview Rice.

They say since her alibi had so many inconsistencies, and because of the reviewed evidence, a judge decided to sign off on an arrest warrant for her in March of 2022.

She was taken into custody while she was working as a civilian on Minot Air Force Base.

Rice pleaded not guilty and was released on a $250,000 bond in Minot as her defense attorneys and state prosecutors tried to figure out how this case would proceed.

Fast forward through several hearings, testimony from police and DNA experts, jury questionnaires, and motions to dismiss the case altogether, Judge Richard Hagar approved the change of venue request.

And just this week, court records show that Rice’s trial is now set to happen in Grand Forks County, starting on January 6, of next year. The case is set to last three weeks

Anita’s family has attended every court hearing since Rice was arrested. It’s been 17 years since her passing.

Ward County will still be prosecuting this case, there will just be a new jury pool that comes from Grand Forks.

No matter where this trial moves to in the state, many eyes will be on it.

Rice has maintained her innocence since she was arrested.

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