Remember last month when we told you Bryan Kohberger said he wanted to take back his guilty plea?
Well, he’s really going forward with it, and now a judge has agreed to hear his take on it.
A year after entering a guilty plea and being convicted for the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, Bryan wants to go back to court and swears he’s innocent this time!
Related: Victim Impact Statements
See, it was that guilty plea that got him off the hook of a possible death penalty — instead only receiving four life sentences in prison. But now he claims he’s innocent and only confessed to the murders because of “false promises” and “blatant disinformation.” Per an interview with the New York Times, Bryan told the outlet:
“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn.”
Bryan passed on giving any specifics on what said “false promises” consisted of, or why he entered the guilty plea if he was innocent, but noted in his statement “justice was not served” and “unanswered questions seem to multiply with each piece of discovery unsealed.” Notably, Bryan’s plea did not require him to offer a motive for the killings.
And now, after filing for post-conviction relief in Idaho’s Ada County District Court, Bryan will get his chance to explain his new tune in court come June 2027. He’ll be represented by a new defense attorney this time — Richard Rauch. If they’re able to convince the court, Bryan will get a new trial.
How horrible for the families…
The Goncalves has since spoken out in a statement to the media, calling Kohberger “the mosquito you just can’t seem to swat.” They further commented:
“He appeared in court for a hearing before a judge, accompanied by his four lawyers. He chose not to leave his fate—or the facts of the case—to a jury. He never cried foul, never claimed he was uninformed or pressured, and never suggested there were problems with the discovery materials he and his counsel had reviewed for two years that should have been challenged. He admitted his guilt. When asked whether he was actually guilty, he answered, “Yes.” We would have preferred a death-penalty trial; we believe fully in the evidence. Instead, BK received exactly what he asked for: a deal that spared his life. Know this—he hates that life. He wants another chance to roll the dice. There will almost certainly be a hearing; that is how the legal process works. The defendant will get another day in court—a welcome break from solitary confinement: a ride, perhaps different food, photos taken, and the spotlight once again fixed on him and his supposed “innocence.” The real tragedy is this: if even a fraction of the energy spent trying to free a guilty man were directed toward honoring the victims, there would be statues of them on every corner, parks bearing their names, and days set aside to remember the lives they lost at the hands of a narcissist.”
You may remember, the Goncalves family went viral for their fiery speeches on the stand — especially Kaylee’s sister Alivea, an all-around badass and inspiration to all.
Thoughts on him getting “another chance to roll the dice”? Let us know in the comments (below).
[Image via Latah County Sheriff’s Office/Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram.]
