Context:

Bryan Kohberger, charged with the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, is set to be sentenced after a change-of-plea hearing where he admitted guilt, thus avoiding a death penalty trial. Despite this admission, questions regarding his motive remain, as the plea deal does not require him to explain his actions. Allocution offers him a chance to address the court and the victims' families, although experts doubt he will provide any explanations or apologies. The victims' families are divided over the plea deal; some feel it denies justice, while others accept it as a means to avoid a lengthy trial and focus on healing. Kohberger will be sentenced to life in prison without parole and is unlikely to speak further unless in a future media interaction or publication, as his plea agreement does not restrict such actions.

Dive Deeper:

• Bryan Kohberger's change-of-plea hearing on July 2 resulted in him pleading guilty to burglary and first-degree murder, sparing him the death penalty and a trial. However, his motive for targeting the students remains unknown, as the plea deal does not require him to divulge this information.

• Allocution, a right allowing defendants to speak before sentencing, might be Kohberger's last chance to explain his actions. Traditionally, allocution is used for defendants to express remorse or provide explanations, but experts predict Kohberger will likely remain silent.

• Victims' families are preparing to deliver impact statements during the sentencing, which are expected to be emotionally charged. Legal analyst Mercedes Colwin anticipates a gut-wrenching session, but doubts Kohberger will offer apologies or explanations.

• The plea deal faced criticism from some victims' families who were not consulted prior to its agreement and felt it fell short of delivering justice. However, other family members accepted it as a means to avoid a protracted trial and move toward healing.

• The plea agreement does not prevent Kohberger from speaking to the media or writing about the case in the future. Despite his current silence, he may choose to reveal more about his motives later, though such revelations could be unsettling for the victims' families.

• Idaho law grants Kohberger the right of allocution, allowing him to address the court without being under oath or subject to cross-examination. This historical legal right traces back to 1689 and varies across jurisdictions.

• Kohberger's sentencing will conclude with a life sentence without parole, and he will lose his right to appeal. He will be required to appear in prison garb, marking a significant shift from his previous court appearances in civilian attire.