GUILTY PLEA DEAL ACCEPTED - 4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered, Bryan Kohberger Arrested, Moscow, Nov 2022 #112

[Warwick7]

Xana's step Dad! Bam!! BK is better off out in the woods with him than what he is going to face in prison!!!

 

[Gemmie]

I only wish that Kohberger would give answers to every question the families have.

Starting with Alivea's questions!!

 

[MTW2011]

(please dont construe this as some sort of Debbie-Downer post)
if you've followed some of my other comments here, I have disccussed some previous cases by both Thompson and Taylor where a death penalty conviction was overturned, where a defendant got a new trial, and another got remanded for new sentencing.

like other states, Idaho statues provides the definitions for who is deemed a "victim" of a crime and, as a result, who can provide "victim impact statements". There have been previous Idaho cases that have gone all the way up to the Supreme Court there where the Justices said that the Idaho laws "...limit victim impact statements to immediate family members" and that "victim impact evidence from the victim's non-immediate family and friends was inadmissible because non-victims presented the evidence". (see attached except from their Decision).

I am not surprised that his defense did not object to some of these statements being made today (mostly because one of the cases that went all the way up to the Supreme Court had Taylor involved in it and, because of that, IMOO I think she knows what the higher Courts say about who can provide victim impact statements). One of these previous also involved a plea deal, which the higher Courts took into consideration when deciding on who should be allowed to present such statements before sentencing.

I do worry, perhaps unnecessarily, that should he choose to appeal he would try to exploit this. He certainly would have some arguments to make about the wide array of people who spoke today as the highest Idaho Court has said that their state laws limit them to "immediate family members". As usual, JMOO

 

[Vaderman]

Getting a peak behind the curtain on how the plea deal came to be.

 

[arielilane]

Reporter Anthony Kuipers is in the courtroom, but I didn't make it inside. Hearing has just started.

I'll be watching along with you in the overflow room.


Kohberger is wearing orange jail garb. Bethany Funke's statement being read right now. "That was the worst day of my life, and I know it always will be." She received death threats and was hounded by the media. She feels sick with survivor's guilt.


Lives in fear, barely left her house for months. She has not slept through a single night since this happened. For a long time, I could barely get out of bed. Now she plans to live for her friends, according to Bethany's statement.

Dylan, the roommate who came face to face with Kohberger, is now about to speak. What happened that night changed everything, she said. Because of him, four beautiful people were taken for no reason.

What he did shattered me. I was barely 19 when he did this, Dylan said. I had to sleep in my mom's bed, I am terrified, have panic attacks, can't breathe, can't think, can't stop shaking. Emotional pain is too much to handle, she said. Kohberger appears to be paying attention.

He is a hollow vessel, he chose evil. He feels nothing. He tried to take everything from me. Living is how I honor my friends. He will never take my voice, Dylan said, or erase my memories of my friends.

Maddie's stepfather and mother's statement describes how much they loved their daughter. Many tears are being shed in the courtroom, and in the overflow room. "This world was a better place with her in it," Scott Laramie said.

Maddie was taken in an act of evil, Scott said. Our grief is compounded with the loss of her other three friends. This vast emotional wound will never fully heal, it's an endless void, he said.

We will grow old without our only child, her stepfather said. For Maddie, we will continue to love our family and friends. We support the plea agreement, Scott said. Evil does not deserve our time. We're done being victims, and we're taking back our lives.

Attorney is now reading a statement from Karen, Maddie's mother. Can't forgive him at this time, his acts were too heinous. For Maddie's sake, we will move on.

Maddie's grandma is describing the traumatic grief her family has experienced. The struggle with media attention was extremely difficult, especially for Ben. On May 25, we encourage folks to do random acts of kindness in Maddie's honor.

Ben Mogen, Maddie's father, said his only daughter was the only great thing he ever did. He's soft-spoken and reading a Father's Day from his girl. Ben said he had addiction issues and depression, and Maddie kept him alive. I just miss her so much, and love her so much, he said.

Steve Goncalves is facing Kohberger. Today we are here to finish what you started. You picked the wrong family, wrong state, wrong police, wrong community. You failed. Your actions united everyone in their disgust for you.

You left your DNA like a calling card. You're stupid. Master's degree? You're a complete joke. Steve is not holding back, and his statements are getting approval from the overflow room.

From this moment, we will forget you, Kaylee's dad said. He also thanked law enforcement for their efforts. Oldest daughter, Alivea Goncalves is now facing Kohberger.

She is speaking strongly, with confidence, and without fear. Alivea is articulate and painting a vivid picture of her anger toward Kohberger. I won't stand here and give you what you want. I won't give you tears and trembling. "Sociopath, psychopath, murderer, sit up straight…"

"If you were really smart, do you think you'd be here right now? Do you feel anything at all? Who are you? You didn't win, you exposed yourself as a coward." She is going right at him.

"Kaylee would've kicked your king ," she said. Court room applause can be heard. (This impact statement will go viral, I predict.)

Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee's mother, is lobbing some insults, that are causing gasps. She is talking about how he's nothing and a loser. Your fellow inmates are anxiously awaiting your arrival. "But don't worry, we're here to help you," she said, quoting Kohberger.

Kaylee's family and friends are not holding back. One grandma said she wishes he'd die the same way he killed the four kids. I want you to be cast out, said another grandma. "You are evil, and in the end evil is eradicated.”

@newsfromkerri

Continued after short break.

OK, we are back. Xana's older sister Jazzmin Kernodle is addressing Kohberger. She believes in God and said she hopes he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. "I am strong, I am brave, and I'm a fighter," she said.

Jeff Kernodle said he misses weekend calls with Xana. Kohberger's parents also are in the courtroom. Not sure if anyone from defense team or his side will speak today.

BOISE - Xana Kernodle's aunt said she forgives him and would like to talk to him someday without judgment. She has questions only he could answer.

"You, man, I just want to be out in the woods with you to teach you about loss and pain," Xana's stepdad said. "Go to hell."

Xana's mother, Cara Northington, is reading a letter to the person who murdered her daughter. Xana is now in heaven and will live on. Cara said she's found Jesus and is able to forgive Kohberger because of God's strength.

@newsfromkerri

 

[AmicusVeritas]

So the prosecutors did reach out to the families before the plea deal was finalized. These are the unique opinions he spoke of I'm sure (at the last hearing)

ETA: the unique opinions being some family agreeing with the plea, some not

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Anyone know who the lady prosecutor is?

 

[Tealgrove]

I just keeping thinking about BK’s mother and sister. Sitting there. Listening to the hate directed at a son and brother. The awful truths being laid bare about your son/brother. And yet they came.

How utterly devastating for them. Especially his mother.

They are victims too but will never be treated as such.

It’s not their fault.

I feel so bad for his family.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1948068906209583245

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Dylan is speaking. God, give her strength.

She was so, so brave.

 

[Megnut]

BT is describing the process of learning of and accepting the plea. Negotiating and notifying.

All very measured.

No bargaining, no reduced sentences, only all five guilties, appeals waived. State would accepted nothing less.

 

[NyxNY]

Alivea, Kaylee's sister..."sociopath. psychopath, murderer..."

I know she implied it, but I really wish she would have also used the word incel.

 

[Sillybilly]

(please dont construe this as some sort of Debbie-Downer post)
if you've followed some of my other comments here, I have disccussed some previous cases by both Thompson and Taylor where a death penalty conviction was overturned, where a defendant got a new trial, and another got remanded for new sentencing.

like other states, Idaho statues provides the definitions for who is deemed a "victim" of a crime and, as a result, who can provide "victim impact statements". There have been previous Idaho cases that have gone all the way up to the Supreme Court there where the Justices said that the Idaho laws "...limit victim impact statements to immediate family members" and that "victim impact evidence from the victim's non-immediate family and friends was inadmissible because non-victims presented the evidence". (see attached except from their Decision).

I am not surprised that his defense did not object to some of these statements being made today (mostly because one of the cases that went all the way up to the Supreme Court had Taylor involved in it and, because of that, IMOO I think she knows what the higher Courts say about who can provide victim impact statements). One of these previous also involved a plea deal, which the higher Courts took into consideration when deciding on who should be allowed to present such statements before sentencing.

I do worry, perhaps unnecessarily, that should he choose to appeal he would try to exploit this. He certainly would have some arguments to make about the wide array of people who spoke today as the highest Idaho Court has said that their state laws limit them to "immediate family members". As usual, JMOO
View attachment 603506

I can't see victim impact statements having any impact on the verdict as they are only heard and considered post verdict. Sentencing perhaps, but not verdict.

IMO

 

[QB2022]

I have a huge amount of respect for Bill Thompson. Master class of an investigation and prosecution.

 

[Megnut]

BT is crying, showing photos of the victims in life, as he asks for maximum sentences.

 

[Ursamajr]

I know she implied it, but I really wish she would have also used the word incel.

maybe it was a good choice she didn't - Kohberger would have been lauded (even more so) by incels. Incels want to be victims.

 

[NoeticSoul]

Heartbreaking photos :/

 

[Megnut]

Asking for consecutive sentences to honor each beautiful life, brutally taken. (BT)

 

[Warwick7]

Right before Xana's mother speaks BK turns and says something to his atty. I want to know what he said. She looks at him but I can't tell if she speaks to him. Maybe she said "shut up" lol!

 

[lonetraveler]

That's what I thought I heard before this started, that's it's not Life without parole but fixed life.

At least it's consecutively.