Bryan Kohberger Seeks to Take Back Guilty Plea

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The criminology student convicted last year of murdering four University of Idaho students in their home is seeking to abandon his guilty plea and obtain a trial, claiming he is innocent and was misled into confessing to the high-profile killings.

In an interview with The New York Times, Bryan Kohberger, who is currently serving four life sentences, said he had filed a petition challenging his conviction, citing concerns about how the plea deal came together.

“My actual innocence is my truth, and the plea, hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation, MUST be withdrawn,” Mr. Kohberger said in a statement provided to The Times on Sunday night. He reiterated in a phone call from prison in Idaho that he had an “absolute claim of innocence.”

Mr. Kohberger had not granted an interview or made public comments before speaking with The Times. He declined to discuss any evidence or other specific details related to his innocence claim, as well as what specific concerns he had about the plea process.

It is rare for defendants to win post-conviction challenges, which often revolve around claims of newly discovered evidence or an ineffective assistance of counsel.

Steve Goncalves, the father of one of the victims, declined to comment Monday morning, saying he wanted to discuss the issue with his family. The Latah County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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Mr. Kohberger declined to discuss the evidence against him in his call with The Times. He said “the intention is for all of those questions to be investigated and answered appropriately in a trial setting.”

Mr. Kohberger, who had court-appointed representation throughout the case, ending with his guilty plea, said he prepared the documentation to challenge the case on his own. He will seek to have a lawyer appointed to help him going forward. Records show the filing reached the court Monday morning.

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