Prominent lawyer Alan Dershowitz has expressed his bewilderment at the absence of a standard condition in the plea bargain agreement reached with confessed murderer Bryan Kohberger in Idaho.
The deal, which was brokered by Idaho prosecutors, has been criticized for its lack of a full disclosure requirement, a common feature in most plea bargains.
According to the Daily Caller, Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole on Wednesday, following his acceptance of a plea deal on June 30. He had been charged with the first-degree murder of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kernodles boyfriend Ethan Chapin in November 2022.
In return for his guilty plea, Kohberger was spared the death penalty. However, Dershowitz, who has extensive experience in crafting plea bargains as a defense attorney, found the omission of a full disclosure clause by Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson perplexing.
Dershowitz voiced his confusion during Wednesday's episode of his podcast, "The Dershow." He said, What I dont understand is the district attorney making a deal that didnt require what deals almost always require. He went on to explain that in most plea bargains, the defendant is required to provide a detailed account of their actions and any potential accomplices. That doesnt seem to be the case here. But full disclosure is always required, Dershowitz added.
The renowned attorney further elaborated on the typical conditions of plea deals, stating, Ive signed these deals, Ive drafted these deals that any deviation from the truth means that the deals off and you can get the death penalty or you can get the longer prison term if you dont tell the full and complete truth. He questioned why the district attorney did not insist on a full disclosure from Kohberger, especially considering the gravity of the crimes committed.
Before the plea deal was struck, the presiding judge dismissed defense motions that would have allowed Kohberger's attorneys to propose an alternate perpetrator and to postpone the trial, which was set to commence on August 11.
The plea deal has drawn criticism, particularly from those who believe that the death penalty should have remained an option. Critics also argue that Kohberger should have been compelled to provide a detailed account of the crime.
Dershowitz concluded his remarks by questioning the defendant's motivations, saying, Now, I dont know whether the DA asked for it and the defendant said, No, I wont do it. I cant imagine that. Why would the defendant care? All he cared about is saving his own rear end and hes done that he will die in prison.
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