Bryan Kohberger, convicted of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death and sentenced to life in prison last summer, ultimately wants to withdraw his guilty plea and reopen his case to stand trial.
• Also read: Four students murdered in Idaho: shocking footage from police officer’s body camera released
• Also read: Four students killed in Idaho in 2022: suspect pleads guilty
• Also read: Bryan Kohberger allegedly broke into another student’s house months before quadruple murder
The murderer filed a motion for post-conviction review Monday in Idaho, according to court documents reported by CNN.
He contends his plea was the result of “threats,” “false promises” and misinformation. Bryan Kohberger also claims to have received ineffective legal assistance during the criminal proceedings, accusing his defense team of failing to provide him with or examine exculpatory evidence.
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In a handwritten document, reported by the American media, he also claims that he was presented with a false representation of what a life sentence and the conditions of detention on death row in Idaho would be.
After initially pleading not guilty, Kohberger ultimately accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
The New York Times was the first media outlet to reveal the existence of this request after meeting Kohberger in prison.
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“My innocence is my truth, and this plea, based on false promises and blatant misinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Kohberger said in a statement sent to the New York Times.
Charged in 2023
Then a doctoral student in criminology at Washington State University, Bryan Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022 at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania in connection with the murders of four students.
Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, were fatally stabbed in the early hours of November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho, according to authorities.
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Kohberger was officially charged in January 2023, before pleading guilty last July, publicly admitting for the first time to being responsible for the four murders.
During a landmark hearing a year ago, Kohberger admitted to killing the four students.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” » Judge Steven Hippler asked him.
“Yes,” Kohberger replied.
The victims’ family reacts
He was later sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Even though he waived his right to appeal as part of his plea agreement, this waiver does not prevent him from filing a new motion challenging the validity of his plea.
The family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four victims, reacted Monday after learning of the filing of this request.
In a Facebook post, the young woman’s relatives said they were not surprised, although Kohberger himself admitted his guilt when asked if he was really guilty.
Kaylee’s loved ones say they would welcome a trial.
“We are confident that he will receive the death penalty he escaped by pleading guilty the first time,” they said.
“No matter the outcome of this case, our family is 100% prepared,” their statement concluded.
