Bryan Kohberger appointed new lawyer after Idaho murders case costs taxpayers over $8 million

Bryan Kohberger, whose murder case has reportedly cost taxpayers more than $8 million, has been appointed a new taxpayer-funded attorney as he seeks to withdraw his guilty plea in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler on Wednesday granted Kohberger's request for court-appointed counsel, directing the Idaho State Public Defender to appoint an attorney to represent him in all post-conviction proceedings.The order comes just days after Kohberger filed a handwritten petition for post-conviction relief seeking to withdraw the guilty plea he entered last year in exchange for prosecutors dropping the death penalty.KAYLEE GONCALVES' MOTHER SAYS FAMILY READY FOR TRIAL AFTER BRYAN KOHBERGER SEEKS TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEAIn the petition, Kohberger claimed he was "convinced to falsely confess" and alleged his defense attorneys – Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow – failed to disclose what he described as "exculpatory discovery," referring to evidence discussed in the recent book "Broken Plea" that was never examined in court.Kohberger previously said he was entering the plea knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily and that no one had coerced him or promised him anything beyond the terms of the agreement. His new petition directly contradicts those statements.As Fox News Digital previously reported, the filing outraged the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, whose mother, Kristi Goncalves, said the family is prepared to return to court if Kohberger succeeds in reopening the case.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XHippler's order states Kohberger's motion for appointed counsel was granted under Idaho's post-conviction relief statute and directs the Idaho State Public Defender to appoint an attorney to represent him throughout the proceedings.KOHBERGER DEFENSE EXPERT WANTS HIS LAWYERS UNDER OATH AFTER KILLER CITES FINDINGS IN BID TO UNDO GUILTY PLEAThe judge also noted that Kohberger had filed a motion seeking to proceed on partial payment of court fees, but said filing fees do not apply to petitions for post-conviction relief.SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWSKohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, admitting he fatally stabbed the four students inside an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.