PLEA DEAL REACHED - 4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered, Bryan Kohberger Arrested, Moscow, Nov 2022 #109

[GMG1999]

Having followed this case since it started, this is not what I expected to see today.

 

[Sundog]

Having followed this case since it started, this is not what I expected to see today.

I think it surprised - and beyond stunned - most of us.

 

[Pink2017]

So then taking what I originally said and tweaking it a bit, Is there a way this could work where he didn't see the DD driver parked, but did see her driving. Like instead of the DD driver being PARKED next to him, she was RIGHT next to him, as in passing by within visibility range and he was parked but not out of the car or maybe nor even had the engine off yet? And as she passed by, he drove off then came back around not knowing which house she had gone to? Seems like that one would work. Still not "parked right next to each other", but could be right next to each other.

JMO, but I cannot see them being that close to each other and actually parked "right next to each other" and he still thinks it is a good idea to attack the house. But I can see a moving vehicle being something to avoid and if it's gone when you return then not an issue.

He saw the DD driver; give it up. He’s screwed.

 

[femto]

Having followed this case since it started, this is not what I expected to see today.

I found it highly likely given the evidence. Let's be honest, he's toast. Trial will almost assuredly get him the DP. He has virtually nothing in his defense and Anne Taylor knows it. I'm just surprised that the prosecution went along with it. I would have thought they would have made an example out of him given the nature of his crimes and the publicity, but I guess money in the end is all that matters.

 

[sunshineray]

Not sure how this could be seen as ineffective council, heck they almost got a reasonable doubt planted- he gave them nothing to work with that isn't their fault.

It's Kohgerger's fault for deciding to murder. MO

 

[KSwizzle]

BK must believe they have enough evidence to convict him, he’s saying he’s guilty as part of the plea to get the death penalty off the table, if he didn’t think they weren’t going to convict him he would go with the trial and get an outcome of not guilty or a hung jury, he knew they were going to convict him and get the death penalty, I don’t believe he’s going this altruistically to save the families or anything, moo, he just doesn’t want to be put to death

 

[Luna20]

Exactly! That was just 7–9 days ago. She acted like a spoiled brat to get the case.

Also, AT needs to go crawl into a hole now since she's proven she's nothing but an utter embarrassment to the legal system. The fact that she even hinted that someone else was responsible for this just a couple of weeks ago. She's a joke.

 

[sripey]

AT saw the evidence and knew what her client did. She knew he was guilty and tried to get him off anyway so he would not face the possibility of the death penalty.

At least she ended up doing the right thing in the end, IMHO: save his life by encouraging him to publicly admit what he did and accept the consequences of his actions. Maybe she tried to do this from day one.

I hope for BK’s soul, if he has one, that he is pleading guilty because he finally had a crisis of conscience—in the past, I thought this possible due to his upbringing and his self-awareness that he is broken—but the timing of this smacks of him finally accepting that he will likely face the firing squad if he doesn’t plead guilty. I hope I’m wrong for the sake of his parents.

IMO

Look, I'm not a big fan of AT, and I hate to have to somewhat jump to her defense, but some of these claims are going a bit overboard imo.

AT can not ask for a plea deal without BK's consent. Period. It is completely BK's decision. I guarantee she has consoled BK for many many months (if not years) that his chances of an acquittal are close to zero. Giving her client an honest appraisal of the case against him is also part of her job, and I'm certain AT has been doing this. She's not dumb or incompetent. But ultimately it is BK's decision and if he doesn't want to plea, AT must still represent him to the best of her ability.

All my opinion, but I feel kinda yucky now.

 

[jesse]

I believe this was his plan all along. Let it drag out to achieve as much infamy as he could.
Now he will go to prison and become a jail house legal aid. Inmates will flock to him to get his legal advice. Making offers of Little Debbie cakes and Hygiene products. Doing his laundry among other things. JMO. SMH!

But he would have gotten more infamy through a trial.

 

[Pink2017]

I found it highly likely given the evidence. Let's be honest, he's toast. Trial will almost assuredly get him the DP. He has virtually nothing in his defense and Anne Taylor knows it. I'm just surprised that the prosecution went along with it. I would have thought they would have made an example out of him given the nature of his crimes and the publicity, but I guess money in the end is all that matters.

It was time. DP awaits him via a jury of his prison peers.!

 

[GMG1999]

I found it highly likely given the evidence. Let's be honest, he's toast. Trial will almost assuredly get him the DP. He has virtually nothing in his defense and Anne Taylor knows it. I'm just surprised that the prosecution went along with it. I would have thought they would have made an example out of him given the nature of his crimes and the publicity, but I guess money in the end is all that matters.

So with this, what happens to all of the evidence? I suppose it can now be released?

 

[Absoluterubbish]

We now know for sure the evidence was overwhelmingly convincing.E

Look, I'm not a big fan of AT, and I hate to have to somewhat jump to her defense, but some of these claims are going a bit overboard imo.

AT can not ask for a plea deal without BK's consent. Period. It is completely BK's decision. I guarantee she has consoled BK for many many months (if not years) that his chances of an acquittal are close to zero. Giving her client an honest appraisal of the case against him is also part of her job, and I'm certain AT has been doing this. She's not dumb or incompetent. But ultimately it is BK's decision and if he doesn't want to plea, AT must still represent him to the best of her ability.

All my opinion, but I feel kinda yucky now.

Exactly, AT has just been doing her job. Literally what she being paid to do. It is clear that the only reason they requested a plea deal is because she had exhausted every other avenue available to her to get the death penalty off the table.

 

[jesse]

I'm absolutely stunned to hear that Bryan Kohberger has accepted a plea deal. It really makes me wonder—what changed? I've always believed he was guilty, but I honestly thought his arrogance and smugness would keep him from ever admitting it. I'm very curious about what finally pushed him to take the deal and avoid the death penalty.

My guess is that with the trial looming, and all of AT's Hail Mary passes failing, the firing squad was looking more and more real.

Even if it took decades, my understanding of death row is that it's miserable compared to general pop.

 

[DizzyB]

Do the families get to speak in court? It does seem very hasty to get all four families and others impacted to get to Idaho and prepare themselves.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Please let me know if I'm wrong. But my understanding is when there is an appeal, it is not a retrial, families aren't drug through anything. It's just the appellate attorney (NOT the trial attorney) files a notice of appeal,both sides file a brief, there could be oral arguments, and a panel of appellate judges review it, and they determine if the appeal is warranted or not. Only if the conviction is overturned is there another trial, but it seems to me there usually are egregious errors to cause this.

It's just that the appeals process in DP cases can take decades. The Lawyer You Know episode tonight said that Idaho is a notoriously slow execution state. Florida's average is 9 years. The national average is nearly 20. And if for some reason the death penalty comes off the table through laws or lawsuits (e.g., the problems with the chemicals used in lethal injection states or the problems with the electric chair), you could end up with a Charles Manson scenario. He was convicted in 1971 and given the death penalty; in 1972, the death penalty in California was overturned and he was sentence to life with the possibility of parole. He was eligible to apply for parole after 7 years; in all, he want up for parole 12 times.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I hope he lives long in prison, tormented daily. I don't wish him deceased, rather, lifer's messing with him for years to come.....administering terror, bewilderment, frustration, and despair, physical pain, psychological torture, but not death, no, that would be too easy.

Snipped for focus. I agree with you 100%.

Look at Timothy McVeigh, for example. He essentially got to lie down and go to sleep, a much more peaceful death than his victims had.

I've always thought LWOP was a worse punishment than the death penalty. Oblivion vs living the rest of your life imprisoned and living in fear that someone might shank you?

I know which one I would choose and it is not LWOP.

JMO

 

[AngTxGal]

Having followed this case since it started, this is not what I expected to see today.

I’m surprised his ego didn’t make him drag this out in a trial. At least he will never walk free again, but likely this means the DP is no longer an option.
My issues with no DP just means there are wing-nuts that will not let this hell end for the family, they will keep him in the spot light off and on for the rest of his life.
Hoping this is a better option for the families, and he never comes up for parole, fades away and rots while the families can heal.

Bittersweet, hoping the families are ok with this


IMO

 

[10ofRods]

I'm absolutely stunned to hear that Bryan Kohberger has accepted a plea deal. It really makes me wonder—what changed? I've always believed he was guilty, but I honestly thought his arrogance and smugness would keep him from ever admitting it. I'm very curious about what finally pushed him to take the deal and avoid the death penalty.

IIRC, today 4 undisclosed witnesses (but there is some information somewhere about them) came to court. One was a former classmate (from before U of W), others were going to testify as to what I think were "mental health" issues. There were no experts called, I don't think. But there would have been experts testifying in the penalty phase of the trial. About his VSS and his mental health.

I found it notable that the Judge set aside as much time for the penalty phase as for the trial itself. IOW, it was obviously going to be a guilty verdict. But he would had a good chance of escaping the DP anyway.

As one WSer said, just yesterday, all it takes is one juror to believe that he has a bona fide mental illness (to me, that means a bona fide disease of the brain affecting brain functioning).

IMO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

maybe his attys finally convinced him that the likelihood of him getting the death penalty was very great and that they were running out of extenuating circumstances and legal arguments to delay that...

I wonder if his own family had any influence on his changing his mind? Maybe he didn’t want his parents to suffer from his potential execution. IDK. Only a thought.

 

[Luna20]

But he would have gotten more infamy through a trial.

You know what he would have hated-no friends or girlfriends to speak positively about him in trial. He is an angry nobody loser and he wants to be worshipped. Having No one to talk him up is more than his ego can bear.

No doubt that he is enjoying the spotlight of today’s news.