Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty to all counts in Idaho college murders case

[lynnwinslow]

The trial was due to begin in August. I'm surprised it took so long to set a trial date.

Bryan Kohberger agrees to plead guilty to all counts in Idaho college murders case: Letter from prosecutors

Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to all counts in the killings of four Idaho college students, according to a letter sent to victims' family members.

abcnews.go.com

Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to all counts in the killings of four University of Idaho students, sparing him from the death penalty, according to a letter sent to victims' family members.

 

[Helix]

Good. One more murderous psychopath off of the streets. Asshole was toast. He left the sheath to his knife at the scene, and they had other serious evidence against him, too.

 

[Jessie C]

I'm glad he accepted a plea...death would be too easy for this homicidal psychopath. Let him spend the rest of his miserable life being tortured by his fellow inmates, that should prove to be a fate worse than death. No one deserves it more than him.

 

[lynnwinslow]

I had forgotten that evaded police for quite a while and was also a PhD student of criminology. Definitely needs to be off the streets.

 

[Jessie C]

I had forgotten that evaded police for quite a while and was also a PhD student of criminology. Definitely needs to be off the streets.

And one of best deals the prosecution made was to force him to agrees to NO appeals ever. God bless these families that lost their precious children to an unconscionable monster...

 

[bythoughts]

I had forgotten that evaded police for quite a while and was also a PhD student of criminology. Definitely needs to be off the streets.

If he can leverage his criminology background to help his fellow inmates beat the rap or get parole, the dreamy wishes of some folks here are likely to come to naught.

 

[coyote505]

If he can leverage his criminology background to help his fellow inmates beat the rap or get parole, the dreamy wishes of some folks here are likely to come to naught.

I remember one serial kidnap-rape-murderer who wangled himself a job as prison law librarian. And this was in Texas, where I thought they knew how to handle their maggots.

 

[Lursa]

And one of best deals the prosecution made was to force him to agrees to NO appeals ever. God bless these families that lost their precious children to an unconscionable monster...

I wouldnt be surprised if that's found unconstitutional in the future. Or maybe not...maybe some knows of similar cases?

I didnt see anything about it...does he have to elocute to the crimes?

 

[multivita-man]

I wouldnt be surprised if that's found unconstitutional in the future. Or maybe not...maybe some knows of similar cases?

I doubt it. I think for that to happen he - someone on his behalf - would have to show he didn't have adequate counsel. Basically the argument would be that he accepted this rotten deal because he was advised to or because the prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence, which is really how any other potential appeal would work. If that could somehow be established, I'm guessing that would open the door to an appeal, irrespective of whatever agreement has been worked out.

What this likely does is ensure that there's no appeal in the absence of an apparent need for one, and it's basically an admission by Kohberger that he understands the evidence against him is sufficient to convict him, and the consequence of that would be death. He doesn't want to be put to death, but he's going to die in prison.

 

[hecatmoggie]

I'm against plea bargaining in cases like this but also supportive of a guilty plea=immediately taken out back and sentence carried out

Kohberger will cost American taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to over a million in the coming decades - that's a travesty IMO

 

[NJBob]

I'm against plea bargaining in cases like this but also supportive of a guilty plea=immediately taken out back and sentence carried out

Kohberger will cost American taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to over a million in the coming decades - that's a travesty IMO

But executions are expensive too. Given no appeals, and the associated court costs, life may actually cost tax payers less.

 

[hecatmoggie]

But executions are expensive too. Given no appeals, and the associated court costs, life may actually cost tax payers less.

executions don't have to be - our system is set up to make lawyers a fortune and gig taxpayers

 

[Lursa]

I doubt it. I think for that to happen he - someone on his behalf - would have to show he didn't have adequate counsel.

Yes and then they comb thru every bit of documented minutia and find something questionable and it's enough to raise the question.

Basically the argument would be that he accepted this rotten deal because he was advised to or because the prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence, which is really how any other potential appeal would work. If that could somehow be established, I'm guessing that would open the door to an appeal, irrespective of whatever agreement has been worked out.

What this likely does is ensure that there's no appeal in the absence of an apparent need for one, and it's basically an admission by Kohberger that he understands the evidence against him is sufficient to convict him, and the consequence of that would be death. He doesn't want to be put to death, but he's going to die in prison.

I think the bold is true but that the excuse would be that they hung the threat of the DP over him as "coercion." They've also had to suppress his being on the spectrum, which could factor in a later date. I just dont completely trust it, that's all. Nothing's ever ironclad.

 

[911Sparky]

But executions are expensive too. Given no appeals, and the associated court costs, life may actually cost tax payers less.

In the case of mass murderers I am willing to spend the money to execute them.

 

[Emlee]

The families are upset with this decision.

 

[Emlee]

 

[Blue Dog]

Thats a shame, I wanted him executed.

 

[Safiel]

I have always been kind of "meh" in regards to the death penalty.

While I support it on principle, as long as numerous precautions are in place, at the same time, I would have zero issue if they banned the death penalty.

In the end, whether they execute the guy or not, the victims are still dead.

The victim's families desire for vengeance (although actually justified here) should not be influential in how the State chooses to dispose of this case.

I am satisfied with the outcome. He will spend the rest of his life in prison with no appeals possible. Justice has been served with this outcome.

 

[multivita-man]

Yes and then they comb thru every bit of documented minutia and find something questionable and it's enough to raise the question.

Not necessarily.

I think the bold is true but that the excuse would be that they hung the threat of the DP over him as "coercion."

There's nothing unusual or unconstitutional about using the possible penalties of guilt to reach a plea agreement.

They've also had to suppress his being on the spectrum, which could factor in a later date. I just dont completely trust it, that's all. Nothing's ever ironclad.

His being on the spectrum isn't really material to the facts of the case or the penalty phase, particularly when prosecutors are taking the death penalty off the table.

 

[NJBob]

In the case of mass murderers I am willing to spend the money to execute them.

A lot of folks would agree with you. I think that’s letting him off easy.

I’d rather he spends a long, long life in utter misery.

 

[Bodecea]

The trial was due to begin in August. I'm surprised it took so long to set a trial date.

Bryan Kohberger agrees to plead guilty to all counts in Idaho college murders case: Letter from prosecutors

Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to all counts in the killings of four Idaho college students, according to a letter sent to victims' family members.

abcnews.go.com

Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to all counts in the killings of four University of Idaho students, sparing him from the death penalty, according to a letter sent to victims' family members.

His lawyer was a master at delaying tactics.....

 

[TheDoctorWasIn]

I wouldnt be surprised if that's found unconstitutional in the future. Or maybe not...maybe some knows of similar cases?

It's not unconstitutional - it's actually pretty standard for plea bargains.

 

[Lursa]

It's not unconstitutional - it's actually pretty standard for plea bargains.

So it's always upheld? That would be reassuring if so.

 

[TheDoctorWasIn]

So it's always upheld? That would be reassuring if so.

It's a voluntary agreement - the only way to get it tossed out would be to convince a Judge that it was coerced.

 

[Safiel]

I would note that Jared Lee Loughner is serving life in prison over the Tucson shootings (Gabby Gifford). He used a similar plea to avoid the death penalty on Federal charges, waiving all appeals.

Arizona declined to prosecute, with the victims not wanting to have to be dragged through a State murder trial, when it was already assured he would serve life in Federal prison.