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By Jenna Sundel
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Bryan Kohberger will appear in court this week for sentencing after pleading guilty to the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger this month pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary related to the stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, as part of a plea agreement. Under the agreement, prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty.
The sentencing will begin at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.
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The Context
On November 13, 2022, Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin were found stabbed to death in an off-campus residence. Kohberger was arrested in connection with the killings on December 30, 2022.
The case received significant media coverage and public interest as proceedings unfolded in the years following the killings.
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What To Know
The Wednesday hearing is expected to last the entire day, with breaks scheduled throughout. The proceedings will be livestreamed on the court's YouTube page.
District Judge Steven Hippler said the hearing could extend into a second day to accommodate all victim impact statements. Family members of the victims will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the sentence and the impact of the crime.
"What I expect to see is some very upset family members giving their victim impact statements, talking about how unhappy they are that Kohberger's life has been spared," Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told Newsweek.
Kohberger is expected to be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on the murder charges and 10 years on the burglary charge, according to the terms of the plea deal.
"It is going to be somewhat anticlimactic, because we know what the result is going to be," Rahmani said. "Kohberger is going to be sentenced to life."
Under Idaho law, Kohberger will be given the right of allocution, the opportunity to speak before a sentence is imposed. He also can choose not to make a statement.
"He's not going to say anything, and this is why: There still is the rare but theoretical possibility that he is charged by the feds and faces the death penalty. I don't think that's going to happen. That rarely happens," Rahmani said.
President Donald Trump referenced the case in a Truth Social post on Monday.
"Bryan Kohberger, who was responsible, in Idaho, for the deaths of four wonderful young souls, has made a plea bargain deal in order to avoid the Death Penalty. These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered," Trump wrote.
Rahmani said the Department of Justice (DOJ) typically does not step in unless there is "substantial federal interest" not addressed in the state case.
"I'm not saying the DOJ is making decisions for political reasons, but I mean, the practical reality is if there's enough support with Trump or high-level officials within the DOJ, that's a possibility," Rahmani said.
Rahmani said he does not think Kohberger will give an explanation for the killings if he decides to speak.
"I know that the big question everyone has is, 'Why did he do it?' I don't think we'll ever know, because I don't think there's any answer that can be given that may not inflame the feelings of the victims' families," Rahmani said.
What People Are Saying
Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told Newsweek: "If we do hear anything from Kohberger, I think it's going to be an apology. I don't think we're going to hear an explanation as to why he did it. Motive isn't an element of the crime. It's not something the prosecution needs to prove or the defense needs to explain."
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "While Life Imprisonment is tough, it's certainly better than receiving the Death Penalty, but before Sentencing, I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders. There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING."
What Happens Next
After sentencing, Kohberger is expected to be transferred into the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction, where he will undergo evaluation to determine his facility assignment, USA TODAY reported. The process could take up to two weeks.
"It's a matter of security, it's a matter of space, it's a matter of the sentence," Rahmani said. "Once a sentence is determined, it's up to the corrections officers to determine where he's going to be."
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