Bryan Kohberger sentenced for still unexplained murder of four US university students

News.com.au

2 days ago

A family member of one of the victims of multiple murder Bryan Kohberger has told a court the killer may have received As in school but 'you are going to be getting 'big Ds' in prison'.
The vivid impact statement came in an Idaho court as family members came face-to-face with Kohberger prior to his sentencing.
On Wednesday, US time, Kohberger was sentenced to jail for the rest of his life for the November 2022 murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20 and Ethan Chapin, 20.
All four university students were killed by Kohberger, 30, in their share house in Moscow, Idaho.
Kohberger came to a plea deal that saw him admit to the murders and waive his right to appeal in exchange for not getting the death penalty.
Moments before the sentencing, Kohberger was asked if he wanted to make any remarks. The hope was he might reveal why he slaughtered the four, where the murder weapon was and why he left two other flatmates alive.
'I respectfully decline,' he told Ada County District Court Judge Steven Hippler in the Boise courthouse.
He has rarely spoken of his crimes.
'Surprise, surprise,' said one victim's family member after he refused yet another opportunity to explain his actions.
'End his 15 minutes of fame'
Judge Hippler, presiding over the case, poured scorn on Kohberger in his sentencing remarks calling him a 'faceless coward' who 'senselessly slaughtered' the four.
'There is no reason for these crimes that could approach anything resembling rationality,' he said.
'In my view, the time has now come to end for Mr. Kohberger's 15 minutes of fame,' he said.
'It's time that he be consigned to the ignominy and isolation of perpetual incarceration.'
Prior to the sentencing, the family members of the victims were given the chance to confront Kohberger.
'Sit up straight when I talk to you'
One of the most forthright statements came from Ms Goncalves' sister Alivea.
'Sit up straight when I talk to you,' she said looking at the killer.
'I won't stand here and give you what you want,' she said.
'Instead I will call you what you are: a psychopath.'
Ms Goncalves told Kohberger that the only thing he failed at more than being a murderer was being a rapper'.
'You are a delusional, pathetic, hypochondriac loser.
'Lurking in the shadows made you feel powerful because you were nothing in the light.
'If you hadn't attacked them in the middle of the night while they were asleep, like a paedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your f***ing Ass.'
'Big Ds in prison'
Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee's mum, was colourful in her condemnation of Kohberger.
'Your fellow inmates will be awaiting your arrival,' she said.
She then read a message from her youngest daughter.
'You may have received As in school,' it read. 'But in prison you'll be getting Big Ds.'
'A dead killer doesn't kill again, so while I'm disappointed the firing squad won't get to take their shots at you, I'm confident that the men in prison will have their way with you in more ways than one.
You will finally get what you wanted: physical touch'.