Why an Idaho Victim's Dad Is Apologizing to His Late Daughter — and Saying He Feels 'Used' by Prosecutors
Kohberger's murder trial was scheduled to take place in August, but in a surprise move, he pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder on July 2
He is expected to be sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prisonSteve Goncalves apologized to his late daughter, Kaylee, for the prosecution's decision to offer now-convicted killer Bryan Kohberger a plea deal that spares him the death penalty.
'It's my mistake. I'm sorry Kaylee,' Goncalves said on Banfield on NewsNation on Wednesday, July 2.
'I'm truly sorry that I didn't get you a prosecutor who really believed what happened to you could only be fixed with life.'
Hours earlier, Kohberger, 30, had pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing University of Idaho students Goncalves and her best friend, Maddie Mogen, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, at their off-campus rental house in Nov. 2022.
Families of the victims gathered inside the courthouse on Wednesday to hear Kohberger plead guilty, coming face to face with the killer who viciously ended their loved ones' young lives.
Related: Best Friends of University of Idaho Murder Victims Speak Out: What We Saw (Exclusive)
Steve Goncalves and his family came to the courthouse, but did not go into the courtroom, NewsNation reported. 'It's a pointless exercise,' he said.
During the tense plea hearing, the judge asked Kohberger, 'Did you on Nov. 13, 2022, in Latah County, Idaho, kill and murder Kaylee Goncalves, a human being?'
Showing no emotion and answering in a matter of fact tone, Kohberger replied, 'Yes.'
The judge then asked him, 'Did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice aforethought?'
Again, Kohberger answered 'Yes' in an emotionless tone, and did so when he was asked about murdering the other three victims.
Related: Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty, Confessing to Murders of 4 University of Idaho Students to Avoid Possible Execution
Kohberger's murder trial was supposed to take place in August, but in a surprise move, he asked for, was granted and agreed to plead guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 2022 deaths of the four students, according to a letter sent to victims' families from prosecutors, cited by ABC News, the Idaho Statesman, and The New York Times.
Steve Goncavles and his family criticized the plea deal, writing on Facebook that the prosecution 'failed us."
They noted that they met with prosecutors on Friday, June 27, about "the possibility of a plea deal and it was a hard no from our family.'
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On Tuesday, July 1, the family wrote that prosecutors "vaguely mentioned a possible plea on Friday, without seeking our input, and presented the plea on Sunday."
On Wednesday, July 2, Steve Goncalves told Banfield host Ashleigh Banfield he and his family feel 'used' by the prosecution.
He also said that he wished Kohberger's fate had been decided by a jury of his peers, who could have decided whether or not to give him the death penalty.
Related: 'Furious' Idaho Murders Victim's Father Wanted to Face Killer in Court. Plea Deal Was a 'Hard No' from Family
When Banfield asked him what he would like to say to Kohberger, he replied that he would tell him he is 'a complete loser.
'I'm ashamed that we couldn't have ended you,' he said. 'You beat me on that. My bad.'
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