布莱恩·科伯格被录取了四名爱达荷大学学生被杀在周三的认罪听证会上，他对所有五项指控认罪，尽管这位前犯罪学学生最初渴望在这起备受瞩目的案件中被判无罪。
在爱达荷州博伊西市的阿达县法院，法官史蒂文·希普勒问科伯格如何为每一项谋杀罪辩护，并指出了四名学生的名字:室友凯莉·冈萨尔维斯、麦迪逊·摩根和夏之纳·克诺德尔，以及克诺德尔的男朋友伊桑·查平。受害者的名字出现在法庭上，让他们的家人潸然泪下。Kohberger每次都很快地说“有罪”，不带任何情绪。
根据一封发给受害者亲属的信，Kohberger被控与2022年杀害四名学生有关的四项一级谋杀罪和一项入室盗窃罪，作为认罪的一部分，他将免于死刑。他将因谋杀罪被判处四个连续的无期徒刑，入室盗窃罪的最高刑期为10年，根据协议。作为协议的一部分，Kohberger还放弃了上诉的权利。宣判定于7月23日。
听证会开始时，Kohberger留着短发，穿着有纽扣的衬衫、领带和卡其裤，带着灿烂的笑容迎接他的辩护团队和他的父母，并坐了下来。Kohberger一度站了起来，法官告诉他，在对他讲话时，他不需要站着。
Kohberger随后用“是”和“不是”简短地回答了Hippler的问题，这是Kohberger自被捕以来首次在法庭诉讼中发言。
有人问他是否想清楚了，Kohberger回答说:“是的。”当被问及认罪的交换条件是什么时，Kohberger回答说，“不是。”当被问及是否因为自己有罪而认罪时，Kohberger回答说，“是的。”
希普勒问Kohberger他是否“杀害和谋杀”了每一个受害者，并说出了四名学生的名字。Kohberger每次都坚忍地回答“是”。辩护律师认为Kohberger的自闭症谱系障碍的“平情感”。
当法官念出受害者的名字时，Kohberger的父亲摇了摇头，脸变红了。
检察官比尔·汤普森向法官概述了该州对科伯格不利的证据，包括科伯格的DNA与摩根尸体留下的刀鞘上的男性DNA相匹配。
汤普森还列出了起诉的时间表——并且首次给出了四名受害者被杀的明确顺序。
2022年11月13日凌晨，汤普森说，Kohberger离开了他在华盛顿普尔曼的公寓，开着他的白色现代伊兰特前往莫斯科，在受害者的附近“盘旋”。
凌晨4点刚过，Kohberger通过厨房的滑动门进入房子，来到三楼，并刺伤了摩根和冈萨尔维斯，Thompson说。
Thompson说，当Kohberger杀死冈萨尔维斯和摩根时，住在二楼的Kernodle仍然醒着，因为她“在此事发生前不久接到了敲门信号”
Thompson说，Kohberger“要么下楼，要么离开，他遇到了夏之纳，最后他杀死了她，也是用一把大刀”。“伊森·查平，夏之纳的男朋友，在他们的卧室里睡着了，在她的卧室里，被告也杀了他。”
房子里的两名室友幸免于难，包括一名室友告诉当局根据法庭文件，半夜她看到一名男子在房子里从她身边走过。
周三的听证会结束时，一名幸存的室友在离开法庭时抽泣着。
就在Kohberger的审判即将开始的几周前，他提出了抗辩。陪审团的挑选定于8月4日开始。
上周会见了受害者家属的检察官称这一请求是为受害者家属“寻求正义的真诚尝试”。
但是21岁的受害者凯莉·冈萨尔维斯的父亲抨击了这一举动指控检察官处理不当，仓促达成认罪协议。
史蒂夫冈萨尔维斯周三在法庭外说，起诉“与魔鬼做了交易”，后来告诉ABC新闻，他觉得他让他的女儿失望了。
冈萨尔维斯的家人告诉ABC新闻，他们周二联系了检察官，要求修改Kohberger的交易条款，以包括额外的要求:他们要求完整的供词，并要求找到所谓的谋杀武器——当局称之为KA-BAR风格的猎刀——但从未找到。
该家庭表示，检察官拒绝了这一请求，解释说被告已经接受的提议在道德上是不能改变的。这家人说，检察官表示，他们要求法庭允许检方在周三的听证会上包括针对Kohberger的证据的事实摘要，并表示，有关Kohberger行为的更多信息将在他的量刑听证会上提出。
爱达荷州法律要求该州为暴力犯罪受害者或其家人提供与检察官沟通的机会，并在达成协议前告知任何拟议的认罪提议，但最终决定完全取决于检方。
这20岁受害者Ethan Chapin的家人在一份简短的声明中称他们出席听证会是为了“支持辩诉交易”这是查平一家自从他们的儿子被杀后第一次出庭。
21岁的受害者麦迪逊·摩根的家人完全支持认罪协议，并相信“这是最好的结果，”他们在周三庭后代表他们宣读的一份声明中说。
“我们爱你，麦蒂，我们想念你，”这家人说，称她是一个“善良、可爱、活泼、充满爱心、充满目标和希望的女儿。”
家庭声明说，他们现在“已经结束”,“从悲剧和哀悼中走出来”...为了未来的光明。”
Kohberger的父母也出席了周三的听证会，这是自两年多前儿子在宾夕法尼亚州被捕以来，他们第一次与儿子一起出庭。Kohberger家族的律师在周二的一份声明中表示，“KOH Berger家族要求媒体成员在此期间尊重隐私，做出负责任的判断。我们将继续允许法律程序向所有各方开放。”
Bryan Kohberger admits to Idaho college killings in plea hearing
Bryan Kohbergeradmitted to thekillings of four University of Idaho studentsat his change of plea hearing on Wednesday, pleading guilty to all five counts, despite the former criminology student's initial eagerness to be exonerated in the high-profile case.
At the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, Judge Steven Hippler asked Kohberger how he pleads for each count of murder, naming the four students: roommates Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. The victims' names cut through the courtroom, prompting tears from their families. Kohberger quickly said "guilty" each time, showing no emotion.
Kohberger -- who was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in connection with the 2022 killings of the four students -- will be spared the death penalty as a part of the plea, according to a letter sent to victims' relatives. He'll be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on the murder counts and the maximum penalty of 10 years on the burglary count,according to the agreement. Kohberger also waives his right to appeal as a part of the agreement. Sentencing was set for July 23.
At the start of the hearing, Kohberger -- sporting a short haircut and wearing a button-down shirt, tie and khakis -- greeted his defense team and his parents with a wide smile and took a seat. Kohberger stood at one point, and the judge informed him he didn't need to stand when addressing him.
Kohberger then briefly answered questions from Hippler with "yes" and "no," marking the first time since his arrest that Kohberger spoke during court proceedings.
He was asked if he was thinking clearly, and Kohberger responded, "yes." When asked if he was promised anything in exchange for the plea, Kohberger responded, "no." Asked if he was pleading guilty because he is guilty, Kohberger responded, "yes."
Hippler asked Kohberger if he "killed and murdered" each victim, naming the four students. Kohberger stoically responded "yes" each time. Defense attorneys have attributed Kohberger’s"flat affect" to autism spectrum disorder.
Kohberger's father shook his head and turned red as the judge read the victims' names.
Prosecutor Bill Thompson outlined for the judge the state’s evidence against Kohberger, including Kohberger’s DNA matching the male DNA on a knife sheath left by Mogen's body.
Thompson also laid out the prosecution's timeline -- and for the first time, a definitive order in which the four victims were killed.
In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022,Kohberger left his Pullman, Washington, apartment and drove to Moscow in his white Hyundai Elantra, "circling" the victims' neighborhood, Thompson said.
Just after 4 a.m., Kohberger entered the house through the kitchen sliding door, went to the third floor and fatally stabbed Mogen and Goncalves, Thompson said.
Kernodle, who lived on the second floor, was still awake when Kohberger killed Goncalves and Mogen, Thompson said, as she'd "taken a DoorDash order not long before this started."
As Kohberger was "either coming down the stairs or leaving, he encountered Xana and he ended up killing her, also with a large knife," Thompson said. "Ethan Chapin, Xana's boyfriend, was asleep in their bedroom, in her bedroom, and the defendant killed him, as well."
Two roommates in the house survived, includingone roommate who told authoritiesin the middle of the night she saw a man walking past her in the house, according to court documents.
As Wednesday's hearing concluded, one of the surviving roommates sobbed as she left the courtroom.
The plea comes just weeks before Kohberger's trial was to get underway. Jury selection was set to start on Aug. 4.
Prosecutors -- who met with victims' families last week -- called the plea a "sincere attempt to seek justice" for the families.
But thedad of 21-year-old victim Kaylee Goncalves blasted the move, accusing the prosecutors of mishandling and rushing the plea deal.
Steve Goncalves said outside court on Wednesday that the prosecution "made a deal with the devil," and later told ABC News he feels like he let his daughter down.
The Goncalves family told ABC News they contacted prosecutors on Tuesday asking for the terms of Kohberger’s deal be amended to include additional requirements: they asked for a full confession and for the location of the alleged murder weapon -- described by authorities as a KA-BAR-style hunting knife -- which has never been found.
The family said prosecutors turned down the request, explaining that an offer already accepted by the defendant could not ethically be changed. The family said the prosecutors indicated they're asking the court to allow the prosecution to include a factual summary of the evidence against Kohberger at Wednesday's hearing, and that more information about Kohberger’s actions would be presented at his sentencing hearing.
Idaho law requires the state to afford violent crime victims or their families an opportunity to communicate with prosecutors and to be advised of any proposed plea offer before entering into an agreement, but the ultimate decision lies solely with the prosecution.
Thefamily of 20-year-old victim Ethan Chapinsaid in a brief statement that they're at the hearing "in support of the plea bargain." This is the Chapins' first appearance at court since their son was killed.
The family of victim 21-year-old Madison Mogen fully supports the plea agreement and believes "this is the best outcome possible," they said in a statement read on their behalf after court on Wednesday.
"We love you, Maddie, and we miss you," the family said, calling her a "kind, loving, vivacious and caring daughter full of purpose and promise."
The family statement said they now "have closure" and "turn from tragedy and mourning ... to the light of the future."
Kohberger's parents also attended Wednesday's hearing, their first time in court with their son since his arrest in Pennsylvania more than two years ago. Attorneys for the Kohberger family said in a statement on Tuesday, "The Kohbergers are asking members of the media for privacy, respect, and responsible judgment during this time. We will continue to allow the legal process to unfold with respect to all parties."
