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Bryan Kohberger gets four life sentences for murdering Idaho college students | Bryan Kohberger gets four life sentences for murdering Idaho college students |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Watch: Key moments in sentencing of Bryan Kohberger for Idaho murders | Watch: Key moments in sentencing of Bryan Kohberger for Idaho murders |
Bryan Kohberger has been sentenced to four consecutive terms of life in prison after pleading guilty to the murders of four Idaho students in November 2022. | Bryan Kohberger has been sentenced to four consecutive terms of life in prison after pleading guilty to the murders of four Idaho students in November 2022. |
The 30-year-old former criminology student appeared expressionless in his orange jumpsuit as he sat through hours of emotional statements from relatives of the victims he killed at a hearing on Wednesday. | The 30-year-old former criminology student appeared expressionless in his orange jumpsuit as he sat through hours of emotional statements from relatives of the victims he killed at a hearing on Wednesday. |
The case shocked the small college town of Moscow and made national headlines for almost two months before Kohberger was arrested. | |
"I'm unable to find anything redeemable about Mr Kohberger," Judge Steven Hippler said while handing down his sentence. "His actions have made him the worst of the worst." | "I'm unable to find anything redeemable about Mr Kohberger," Judge Steven Hippler said while handing down his sentence. "His actions have made him the worst of the worst." |
In the early morning hours of 13 November, Kohberger stabbed to death roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in their off-campus home. Two other roommates were not physically injured. | In the early morning hours of 13 November, Kohberger stabbed to death roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in their off-campus home. Two other roommates were not physically injured. |
Authorities worked for more than six weeks to catch him, using a DNA sample from a knife sheath he left at the scene of the crime as well as phone records and surveillance footage of his white car. | Authorities worked for more than six weeks to catch him, using a DNA sample from a knife sheath he left at the scene of the crime as well as phone records and surveillance footage of his white car. |
Eventually, Kohberger - who officials say visited the students' Moscow residence several times before the murders - was arrested at his family home in Pennsylvania on 30 December. He also received a sentence of 10 years for burglary. | Eventually, Kohberger - who officials say visited the students' Moscow residence several times before the murders - was arrested at his family home in Pennsylvania on 30 December. He also received a sentence of 10 years for burglary. |
On Wednesday, when asked by the judge if he wished to speak, he replied: "I respectfully decline." He had pleaded guilty in deal to avoid the death penalty. | On Wednesday, when asked by the judge if he wished to speak, he replied: "I respectfully decline." He had pleaded guilty in deal to avoid the death penalty. |
Relatives of the four university students spoke for over two hours at the hearing, sharing the trauma Kohberger had inflicted on their lives. | Relatives of the four university students spoke for over two hours at the hearing, sharing the trauma Kohberger had inflicted on their lives. |
The family members offered memories of their lost loved ones, describing the four students as bright and empathetic. Their descriptions left many in the court in tears, including the judge. | The family members offered memories of their lost loved ones, describing the four students as bright and empathetic. Their descriptions left many in the court in tears, including the judge. |
Madison Mogen was someone who listened carefully to others, her step-father, Scott Laramie, told the court. | Madison Mogen was someone who listened carefully to others, her step-father, Scott Laramie, told the court. |
"Karen and I are ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddy," he said of him and his wife. | "Karen and I are ordinary people, but we lived extraordinary lives because we had Maddy," he said of him and his wife. |
Kristi Goncalves, the mother of Kaylee, told Kohberger he had stolen her peace. | Kristi Goncalves, the mother of Kaylee, told Kohberger he had stolen her peace. |
"You've altered my every waking moment," she said. | "You've altered my every waking moment," she said. |
Some took the chance to express their fury with Kohberger, including Kaylee Goncalves' sister, Alivea, who told the defendant to "sit up straight" while she talked to him. | Some took the chance to express their fury with Kohberger, including Kaylee Goncalves' sister, Alivea, who told the defendant to "sit up straight" while she talked to him. |
"You're a textbook case of insecurity. You are not profound, you're pathetic," she said. | "You're a textbook case of insecurity. You are not profound, you're pathetic," she said. |
"You're going to go to hell," said Xana Kernodle's step father, Randy Davis. | "You're going to go to hell," said Xana Kernodle's step father, Randy Davis. |
Aunt of murdered Idaho student says she has "forgiven" killer | Aunt of murdered Idaho student says she has "forgiven" killer |
But one woman, an aunt of Kernodle, told Kohberger she forgave him, and that she wanted answers. | But one woman, an aunt of Kernodle, told Kohberger she forgave him, and that she wanted answers. |
"Any time you want to talk, I'm here for you," she said. | "Any time you want to talk, I'm here for you," she said. |
The court also heard statements from two of the students' roommates who were sleeping in the house the night of the murders. | The court also heard statements from two of the students' roommates who were sleeping in the house the night of the murders. |
One of the roommates, Dylan Mortensen, saw the assailant in a ski mask in the hallway as he was leaving. | One of the roommates, Dylan Mortensen, saw the assailant in a ski mask in the hallway as he was leaving. |
Sobbing as she spoke, Ms Mortensen told the court she had not been able to sleep since the murders, too afraid to close her eyes. | Sobbing as she spoke, Ms Mortensen told the court she had not been able to sleep since the murders, too afraid to close her eyes. |
"People call me strong, they call me a survivor but don't see what my new reality looks like. | "People call me strong, they call me a survivor but don't see what my new reality looks like. |
"He didn't just take their lives, he took the light they carried into every room," she said of her four friends. | "He didn't just take their lives, he took the light they carried into every room," she said of her four friends. |
With Kohberger declining to speak, the three-hour long sentencing hearing did not provide the answers that some relatives and members of the public had long been hoping for. | With Kohberger declining to speak, the three-hour long sentencing hearing did not provide the answers that some relatives and members of the public had long been hoping for. |
Dylan Mortensen told the court she will continue living with the pain, but Kohberger will stay there "empty, forgotten and powerless" | Dylan Mortensen told the court she will continue living with the pain, but Kohberger will stay there "empty, forgotten and powerless" |
Many questions remain surrounding the case - including why Kohberger, a criminology doctorate student at Washington State University, would drive to another campus a state over to brutally stab four students. | Many questions remain surrounding the case - including why Kohberger, a criminology doctorate student at Washington State University, would drive to another campus a state over to brutally stab four students. |
After the sentence, investigators told the media despite using "every resource possible", they did not discover a single connection between Kohberger and his victims, or surviving roommates. There was no indication he followed them on social media, they added. | After the sentence, investigators told the media despite using "every resource possible", they did not discover a single connection between Kohberger and his victims, or surviving roommates. There was no indication he followed them on social media, they added. |
Judge Steven Hippler told the court on Wednesday he had those same questions himself, but they would likely never be answered. | Judge Steven Hippler told the court on Wednesday he had those same questions himself, but they would likely never be answered. |
"There is no reason for these crimes that could approach anything resembling rationality," the judge said. | "There is no reason for these crimes that could approach anything resembling rationality," the judge said. |
He said it no longer made sense to be "dependent on the defendant" to give them a reason for his crimes. | He said it no longer made sense to be "dependent on the defendant" to give them a reason for his crimes. |
"By continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr Kohberger relevance," he said. "It is time to end Mr Kohberger's 15 minutes of fame." | "By continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr Kohberger relevance," he said. "It is time to end Mr Kohberger's 15 minutes of fame." |
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