An Idaho judge has established the timeline for Bryan Kohberger’s attempt to retract his guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students. Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler is requiring both legal teams to adhere to strict standards for any new evidence presented in the case.
Kohberger, sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, pleaded guilty to the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen. The crimes were committed in a rented home near the Moscow, Idaho, campus in 2022. In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty.
In a recent handwritten petition, Kohberger requested to withdraw his plea, alleging his attorneys pressured him into the agreement with promises of better prison conditions and warnings about life on death row. He claimed that evidence potentially beneficial to his case was not disclosed or reviewed during plea negotiations. Kohberger is now represented by a new attorney, Greg Rauch, who has not commented on the case.
Judge Hippler did not approve a hearing for Kohberger’s plea withdrawal claims but scheduled a potential evidentiary hearing for next June. The judge directed both sides to adhere strictly to the Idaho Rules of Court Procedure, emphasizing rules on admissible evidence.
Hippler instructed prosecutors and the defense to disclose any potential witnesses, including experts, by February. A status conference is set for next June, and non-compliance with the court’s orders could result in sanctions.
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