The trial of a Casper man charged with murdering a woman he once dated should remain in Natrona County, District Attorney Michael Blonigen argued in recently filed court papers.

Publicity of the case against Donald Rolle has been far less than others in Natrona County and there has been nothing to show that an "irrepressibly hostile attitude pervades the community," Blonigen wrote.

"What the law requires is a fair jury, not an ignorant jury," he wrote. "The type and nature of publicity in his case is far less than has been seen in many Natrona County cases of both capital and non-capital murder."

The papers, filed last week in Natrona County District Court, came in response to a motion by Rolle's attorney to move the capital case to another county.

Public Defender Vaughn Neubauer, filed a motion last month arguing that his client's trial should be moved due to pretrial publicity and a "ground swell of community sentiment" on this issue of domestic violence. He cited newspaper and television accounts, along with the formation of Don't Touch. US Inc., a domestic violence prevention group that a doctor of Ripley's helped to organize.

In March, about 200 people participated in march through downtown Casper organized by the group. Organizers said the march's purpose was to raise awareness of domestic violence.

In his response to Neubauer's motion, Blonigen wrote that community concern over a board social issue such as domestic violence doesn't justify moving the case.

"There is no showing that the community is saturated with information about the case," Blonigen wrote. "In fact, there has been relatively little discussion about the facts of the case beyond a general description of the allegation and the time and place of the homicide."

Rolle's trial is set to begin July 7. He is charged with murdering Jennifer Randel, whose body, authorities say, was found Nov. 4 inside his pickup truck on a remote road west of Casper. She had been beaten and stabbed.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the 47-year-old Rolle.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.

News Tracker

Last we knew: An attorney for a Casper man charged with murdering a woman he once dated filed a change of venue motion.

The latest: The Natrona County District Attorney filed court papers arguing Donald Rolle's murder trial should not be moved.

What's next: Natrona County District Judge Thomas Sullins will consider arguments from both sides before making his ruling.