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

[Warwick7]

 

[Tragg]

My 2 cents is that she did what she did so that if a plea deal happened, he could not claim that he didn't get good representation. I think (MOO) that she might have originally believed him, then came to realize he was guilty and needed to make sure there was no question later that he was coerced into a plea deal or anything like that. You could see where she was heading, into CYA land.

AT took this case for two very good reasons: (1) she was the public defender for the county in which BK was charged, and (2) she was one of a handful of attorneys Idaho authorities to represent defendants who are eligible for the death penalty. She did not fight to get this case - it fell into her lap. She fought to keep it against scurrilous charges that she had a conflict of interest (see my post #994 above).

 

[Tragg]

I saw this all play out, my recollection is not singular. IMO it was clear what was going on. You can scroll through earlier threads.

I don't need the threads. I have read the court record.

 

[Luna20]

My 2 cents is that she did what she did so that if a plea deal happened, he could not claim that he didn't get good representation. I think (MOO) that she might have originally believed him, then came to realize he was guilty and needed to make sure there was no question later that he was coerced into a plea deal or anything like that. You could see where she was heading, into CYA land.

Yes and quickly!

 

[sunshineray]

If sensationalism is a problem during trial, let's just get rid of trials. This type of case should go to trial. Plea bargains are for lesser offenses.

There's always a danger of the guilty (OJ, Casey Anthony, IMO) getting off or even if convicted on a DP charge (Jodi Arias) not given the DP, so years upon years of appeals. Even with a conviction on DP it can sometimes be 30-40 years on appeals.

In my opinion if sensationalism is a problem during trial, it's because checks/balances with security, especially at the courthouses, haven't been appropriately dealt with. AJMO

 

[sassyblue]

11a, Mountain or Pacific Time?

So that would be 1p ET or 2p ET, respectfully.

11 AM MTN Time

 

[Curious Me]

Will the victims families be given a chance to make impact statements at BK's sentencing? Please, at least give the family members a chance to voice their anguish and put some shame on Kohberger. It definitely seems to help bring a tiny bit of closure. I just watched the sentencing of Monica Sementilli and Fabio's family members tore into her and you could see it helped them to voice their anguish. I don't think BK should be allowed to just plead guilty and not hear from all the victims' family members. All MOO​

 

[sunshineray]

It was the Defense lawyers who came to the Prosecutors and asked for a plea offer. That doesn't happen without client consent ahead of time, right?

" In a letter to the victims' families on Monday, prosecutors said that Mr. Kohberger's defense team asked for a plea offer last week."

Surprise Plea Deal Is Reached in Idaho Murder Case

Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology student, is charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. Prosecutors said they had reached a plea agreement that avoids the death penalty.

www.nytimes.com

 

[sunshineray]

Will the victims families be given a chance to make impact statements at BK's sentencing? Please, at least give the family members a chance to voice their anguish and put some shame on Kohberger. It definitely seems to help bring a tiny bit of closure. I just watched the sentencing of Monica Sementilli and Fabio's family members tore into her and you could see it helped them to voice their anguish. I don't think BK should be allowed to just plead guilty and not hear from all the victims' family members. All MOO​

They certainly will be able to make impact statements at sentencing.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Why the rush to get him to court to plea guilty?
It doesn’t seem fair to the families to have such little time to prepare impact statements.

 

[LadyL]

I was not expecting this at all.

 

[Sundog]

Since they have agreed to a firm deal, I wonder if he's already sat down with the prosecution and made a statement (ala Jake Wagner) that could be read either at the plea hearing or sentencing.

I doubt that a defendant would make a statement before it is known if the judge will accept the plea deal and its terms. JMO

 

[QB2022]

It was the Defense lawyers who came to the Prosecutors and asked for a plea offer. That doesn't happen without client consent ahead of time, right?

" In a letter to the victims' families on Monday, prosecutors said that Mr. Kohberger's defense team asked for a plea offer last week."

Surprise Plea Deal Is Reached in Idaho Murder Case

Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology student, is charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. Prosecutors said they had reached a plea agreement that avoids the death penalty.

www.nytimes.com

AT's sole goal was to keep him off the DP, it never came accross she was fighting to prove his innocence but to keep him alive and she has.

 

[Best of What's Around]

I was talking to the Dateline producer who did the Kohberger episodes earlier. He felt it was his mother who convinced him. Just his sense of the situation.

I came back tonight to say something to this effect but others had beaten me to it. I do imagine that family pressure for him could be considerable - when the limelight fades, they are what he will have left. I also cannot imagine what they were about to go through with his life dissected in sentencing - putting all family relations and child raising under a microscope. If I had to guess it would be that (1) he came to the realization that he had a snowballs chance in hell of winning, and (2) his family may have negotiated with him that they could somewhat forgive/still have love for him and maintain some kind of relationship if he faces up to what he did and not put their family through the hell they were about to endure. I doubt a fear of a firing squad truly played into his decision making. Just like I also think to a lesser extent Watts worried less about the death penalty than his own abject horror having all his misdeeds dissected for months on end at trial. That would have been death by a thousand cuts for him. Now Lori - wishes she had more trials. Just depends on the personality. I do believe to some degree Brian cares about what his family or at least parents think of him. And while he might not mind the publicity, I wager he only wants it in so far as he had a chance of looking like something other than a failure and not as bright as he believes he is. And this trial was shaping up not to give his case much room to cast serious doubt on who did it and how someone who studied criminology for a living could fail so spectacularly. Buying your murder weapon on Amazon??? Driving your own car (and doing laps no less) to the crime scene in the age of camera doorbells? Less educated criminals have planned better. I suspect that is his greatest regret - not ruining people’s lives nor terrorizing people - but looking like a fool given his wealth of knowledge and clear long term planning. MOO

 

[Best of What's Around]

Yes and quickly!

Defense attorneys have to tell themselves what our country’s justice system is based on - which is that everyone is entitled to a vigorous defense. I personally would find it difficult to believe that AT only recently came to the conclusion he is guilty. It should be immaterial to her - and while it seems horrific and I could not do it myself, it wouldn’t be a just system if people could not get a vigorous defense before anything was proven. Defense counsel know they have a job to do and the prosecution, judge and jury have their jobs. If everyone does their job to the best of their ability, justice should and hopefully often prevails. Defense attorneys IMO do not have rose colored glasses - they know who is guilty or not or strongly suspect - it is just that they are not supposed to let that affect their defense (beyond legal guidelines which yes some circumvent to lie to the court) or the system does not work. Which is why they often do not want their clients to tell them if they did it if they will fight it. For legal reasons or their own personal ethics. Most of the cases we follow like this every single defense team member knows what they are dealing with - they are not fangirls. Now, of course the system often isn’t fair, but I have not yet seen a better system. Would be interesting to see write up comp table of most developed countries and how they differ!

 

[Best of What's Around]

Why the rush to get him to court to plea guilty?
It doesn’t seem fair to the families to have such little time to prepare impact statements.

(1) I would assume until his plea is done and dusted by being accepted by the judge, he can change his mind;
(2) time - both sides have hundreds of hours a week going into this trial still and they can’t stop until this is done and dusted; ditto for people scheduled to travel.
(3) the victims and families of victims will not have their say on entering of a plea deal but at sentencing which will come much later - weeks or a month later.

 

[Best of What's Around]

I don’t think he cares about his parents. If he did he wouldn’t have committed 4 murders just for fun.

I think you are correct. But he very well might care what they think about him and how that will affect his future in prison. I do believe people who lack empathy look at things more transactionally. His family may have just become more important to him in that respect. Soon they will be the very few he can ever truly trust to care about him and possibly be there for him for the long haul. MOO

 

[Curious Me]

Not all family members of the victims are okay with the plea deal and the suddenness of it.

Sister of U. of Idaho Murder Victim Kaylee Goncalves Slams Plea Deal with Suspect Bryan Kohberger: 'The System Has Failed'

Kaylee Goncalves' 18-year-old sister, Aubrie Goncalves, is speaking out after her suspected killer, Bryan Kohberger, has reportedly accepted a plea deal.

people.com

"But before that can truly happen, they deserve justice. Nothing less. The introduction of this plea deal, just weeks before the scheduled trial, is both shocking and cruel," wrote Aubrie.​

 

[mickey2942]

I wonder if part of the plea deal, that BK can go to a prison in Pennsylvania. Rather than serve in Idaho. Chris Watts ended up serving his time in Wisconsin, rather than Colorado.

 

[Ghostwheel]

AT took this case for two very good reasons: (1) she was the public defender for the county in which BK was charged, and (2) she was one of a handful of attorneys Idaho authorities to represent defendants who are eligible for the death penalty. She did not fight to get this case - it fell into her lap. She fought to keep it against scurrilous charges that she had a conflict of interest (see my post #994 above).

I'm sorry, what does that have to do with what I wrote? I feel like I'm missing some connection you made here. TIA.