President Donald Trump waded into the “vicious” Idaho student murders case Monday with a post on Truth Social about Bryan Kohberger’s upcoming sentencing, saying he hopes the judge requires some kind of explanation at Wednesday’s hearing for the slayings of “four wonderful young souls.”
When Kohberger pleaded guilty earlier this month, he gave no motive or explanation while admitting to the home invasion stabbing deaths of four college students.
“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,” Trump wrote. “There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING.”
Trump echoed public surprise about the unexpected plea deal, which spares Kohberger from the potential death penalty in exchange for admitting to the crimes. He is expected to receive four consecutive terms of life imprisonment with no chance of parole, plus another 10 years, and has waived his right to appeal and to seek a sentence reduction.
Critics have questioned why the deal didn’t require him to explain himself. And the appeal waiver does not mean he won’t have any chance to appeal, according to Judge Steven Hippler, who cited a Supreme Court case, Garza v. Idaho, that found defendants who waive their rights to appeal may still have a right to appeal.
