Comerzan’s trial is moved to Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Mo- On Friday, a judge granted the request of the defense to move the highly publicized case against Serghei Comerzan to Montgomery County.

Last August, Trooper James Bava was killed in a single-car crash in the pursuit of Serghei Comerzan.

Comerzan’s lawyer, Charles James, told ABC17 that it was important to have the case moved out of Audrain County, “When you have a case that receives a lot of news coverage in the local where it occurred, in a small community where everybody knows everybody practically. Everybody already has an opinion on the case so you know we want to go somewhere where the jury has a clean slate that hasn’t already formed opinions thus far.”

The move from Audrain to next door Montgomery County is just part of a busy week for this story. Just three days ago Bava’s family spoke at a House hearing in Jefferson City to get a section of highway where he died, dedicated in his name.

ABC17 asked the Bava family about the change in venue, but have yet to hear back from them.

The defense also filed a bond reduction because they said Trooper Bava’s death is not on Comerzan, “It’s not that we intend to argue that, it is just a fact. Trooper Bava drove at speeds of 130 miles per hour. By the states own patrol experts he was doing about 130 when he hit a blind hill, went airborne on a small country road.”

Charles James believes his client will be found innocent, “Not guilty of murder, not guilty of any felony.”

At this time Comerzan is still in the Audrain County Jail but will be moved to Montgomery County shortly. His bond is set at 250,000 cash only.