The father of one of the four University of Idaho murder victims says he would not oppose a new trial for Bryan Kohberger after the convicted killer moved to undo his plea, arguing that another courtroom fight could put the death penalty back on the table.
Steve Goncalves, whose daughter Kaylee Goncalves was among the students killed, told NewsNation he would welcome what he described as another chance to confront the man accused and convicted in the Idaho college murders.
Goncalves said he would be eager to see Kohberger brought back before the court and held responsible “to the full extent” for the killings, adding that he would “love” the opportunity.
He also criticized Kohberger in sharply personal terms, saying the former criminology student was not part of Idaho’s community and that the victims’ families had been forced to endure an exhausting legal battle while pushing for accountability.
Kohberger, in a statement provided to The New York Times, said he intends to withdraw his plea and replace it with a fresh not guilty plea.
“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Kohberger wrote in the statement.
Kohberger, who is serving four life sentences for the killings, said he would welcome Idaho prosecutors having another chance to present their case in court — and to once again seek capital punishment.
He further claimed that the state’s version of events was narrow and misleading, describing it as a “work of fiction” that, in his view, had not meaningfully changed since the probable cause affidavit was released and was never tested at trial.
Bryan Kohberger announced he plans on petition for a retrial a year after taking a plea deal for the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin
Steve Goncalves, the father of Kaylee, welcomed the wish, saying he wants a ‘second shot at the accused murderer’ and is positive Kohberger would receive the death penalty
Kohberger narrowly avoided the stand during his first trial, as he took a plea deal before it could start.
He has requested a new public defender, The Times reported.
In public filings, the murderer claimed his previous representation hadn’t adequately depicted what life in prison would be like and had pledged that he’d get employment and visits.
He also claimed he was given ineffective counsel, who failed to review exculpatory evidence with him.
However, Goncalves said he can tell Kohberger exactly what would happen to him if he were given the life of a normal prisoner, he told NewsNation.
‘If he still wants to know what’s waiting for him, he can always write me. I can tell him what some people tell me is waiting for him. It only gets worse. And he’s actually got it pretty good right now,’ he told the outlet.
‘They’re protecting him to the fullest extent of the law. But eventually, he has to be treated like a normal prisoner and those days are going to be pretty scary ahead.’
Goncalves also believes it would be a waste of Idaho’s money to do a retrial and believes the murderer is only requesting it due to being an ‘egomaniac psychopath.’
‘I would love for us to be able to reline him up and hold him accountable to the full extent of what he’s done,’ Steve, pictured with his wife, said. ‘I would love it’
Kaylee and Madison, as well as the two others, were murdered inside their home
When Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing the roommates, he did not have to provide a motive for the murders. And he has not yet revealed one to the public
‘I don’t want to put our community through another few million dollars,’ he said.
Kohberger’s petition comes one year after he pleaded guilty to killing Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin inside the home they shared during the University of Idaho’s school year.
All four victims were found with blunt-force injuries.
When Kohberger pleaded guilty, he did not have to provide a motive for the murders. And he has not yet revealed one to the public.
The Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador told The Times his office is ‘ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is fully carried out.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Goncalves for comment.
