Bryan Kohberger claims family joined plea talks as he seeks to withdraw guilty plea: court docs

Bryan Kohberger says his family was involved in plea discussions as he seeks to undo his guilty plea, newly released court documents obtained by Fox News Digital reveal.The convicted killer, who pleaded guilty to stabbing and killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, recently filed a petition for post-conviction relief seeking to withdraw the guilty plea he entered last year in exchange for prosecutors dropping the death penalty.In his handwritten petition filed on Monday, he wrote that "members of Kohberger's immediate family" were present during attorney-client discussions.KAYLEE GONCALVES' MOTHER SAYS FAMILY READY FOR TRIAL AFTER BRYAN KOHBERGER SEEKS TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEAKohberger claims that he was "convinced to falsely confess," claiming his high-profile defense team of Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow didn't tell him about "exculpatory discovery" — evidence mentioned in the recent "Broken Plea" book but never vetted in court.IDAHO MURDERS: NEW BOOK ON KOHBERGER REVEALS PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN EVIDENCE, CLAIMS SHEATH COULD BE INADMISSIBLEIn a message to the New York Times, Kohberger claimed that "justice was not served" and that it was "circumnavigated by a broken plea."LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST"Broken Plea" is the title of a recent book about the case that shed new light on what the defense may have looked like at trial — and his use of the term surprised author Chris Whitcomb, who says he had never spoken to Kohberger.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XWhitcomb told "Crime & Justice" podcast host Donna Rotunno on Thursday he has never communicated with Kohberger or any member of his family, and Whitcomb has no information on whether Kohberger or any of his family members read the book.SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWSAs for his petition, Kohberger claims his attorneys misrepresented what Idaho’s death row would be like.LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MOREHe alleges one attorney told an elaborate story about personally "touring an actual 8-foot-by-8-foot death-row cell," which Kohberger said was "fabricated."BRYAN KOHBERGER'S MOTHER CALLED HIM 'MY ANGEL' AND INSISTED POLICE MADE A 'REALLY, REALLY BAD MISTAKE': BOOKSEND US A TIPHe said this information was communicated to him and his family and was used to frighten or pressure him into accepting the plea deal.On Wednesday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler granted Kohberger's request for court-appointed counsel, directing the Idaho State Public Defender to appoint a new attorney to represent him in all post-conviction proceedings.GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAILFox News Digital has reached out to Kohberger's former defense team.
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Bryan Kohberger says his family was present when his lawyers talked about a plea deal. He wants to take back his guilty plea for killing four University of Idaho students in 2022. He filed a handwritten petition asking the court to withdraw the plea. The plea deal had removed the death penalty in exchange for his guilty plea.
Why it matters
If the court allows him to withdraw the plea, he could face a trial again and possibly the death penalty. This could affect the victims' families and the legal process.
- What did Bryan Kohberger claim about his family?
- He said his family members were present during plea discussions.
- Why does he want to withdraw his guilty plea?
- He wants to undo the plea he entered last year to avoid the death penalty.
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Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
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Bryan Kohberger claims family joined plea talks as he seeks to withdraw guilty plea: court docs
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