Donald Trump makes surprising demand in Idaho murder case ahead of Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing date tomorrow
Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on Bryan Kohberger's plea deal.
In June, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.
All four students were stabbed multiple times and were killed in a rental property near the university's main campus.
There was a two week-long manhunt after the brutal murders and Kohberger went on to be identified by authorities with the help of DNA evidence, cellphone data and video footage.
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Kohberger, 30, was then charged with first-degree murder and burglary.
At first, he denied the charges but in a dramatic U-turn in late June, Kohberger changed his plea to guilty as a part of deal.
The deal prevents him from being placed on death row for his crimes, something which prosecutors would have pushed for, had Kohberger gone to trial next month as planned.
The 30-year-old is expected to be handed a life long sentence at his hearing tomorrow (July 23).
It's reported that Kohberger's plea deal does not order him to reveal the motive of the killings of Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle and Chapin — but the President Trump wants this changed.
Taking to Truth Social to weigh in on the matter, Trump said: "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.
"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.
"People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
While Kohberger hasn't shared why he killed the four students, his signed confession does state that it was a premeditated attack.
There have been theories about why Kohberger attacked Goncalves and Mogen specifically.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman suggested that it came down to a psychological pattern.
"It is especially significant that Maddie and Kaylee look like the blonde cheerleader who rejected him in middle school," Dr Lieberman told the Mail.
"He took out the rage that he built up over the years, towards this first love and all the subsequent women who rejected him, with each bloody stab of the knife."
Topics: Bryan Kohberger, Donald Trump, Idaho, True crime, Truth Social, US News
Niamh Shackleton