Bryan Kohberger likely will not have to explain why he slaughtered four University of Idaho students when he enters a guilty plea — leaving the victims’ families with unanswered questions.
Koherberger reached a shock deal with prosecutors Tuesday –- just weeks ahead of the highly-anticipated quadruple homicide trial. The plea will spare him from the possibility of death by firing squad, but will see him spend the rest of his life in prison.
A hearing has been scheduled in his case for 11 a.m. Wednesday, and one local expert says he’ll likely plead guilty then.
The former Ph.D. criminology student will have to admit to his crimes, but likely won’t explain his motive, Idaho defense attorney Edwina Elcox told The Post.
He will have to establish the elements of the crime like the dates and locations, and acknowledging that he committed the killings.
But, “he wouldn’t have to say why he did it – just that he did it,” Elcox explained.
She added: “There is no requirement that he says why for a plea.”
The family of slay victim Kaylee Goncalves said they “are beyond furious at the State of Idaho” for agreeing to the deal. “They have failed us.”
Elcox said prosecutors wouldn’t have made the deal lightly, knowing the impact it would have on the victim families.
Still, she explained there are other benefits of Kohberger taking a plea deal, such as ensuring a conviction since “you never know what will happen at trial.”
Since Kohberger agreed not to appeal the conviction and sentencing, “then it’s done. It gives everyone a sense of finality,” the lawyer said.
On the other hand, with a trial there are usually “decades of appeals and rehashing everything,” Elcox said. “It gets to a resolution that ensures that he will never be out in the community again.”
The hearing Wednesday could go for about an hour, since the judge will likely want to ensure that everything is done correctly.
Sentencing likely won’t take place for weeks, Elcox said.
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