Return to Transcripts main page

Inside Politics

Bryan Kohberger Sentencing Hearing Underway; Victim Impact Statements Underway Before Kohberger Sentencing. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired July 23, 2025 - 12:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:33:25]

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT AND CO-ANCHOR OF 'INSIDE POLITICS': We've been listening to very powerful and emotional victim impact statements in the sentencing hearing of Bryan Kohberger. He's the man responsible for stabbing four University of Idaho students to death back in 2022. Attorney and Legal Affairs Commentator, Areva Martin has been following the case and joins us now. So Areva, how impactful are victim statements like the ones we just heard on a judge who is making these sentencing decisions?

AREVA MARTIN, ATTORNEY AND LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Well, Manu, they can be very impactful. Judges listen to these statements very carefully. They can impact what the judge decides, ultimately, as it relates to the sentencing. Now, what we know about this plea deal is that in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table, the defendant agreed to plead guilty for four consecutive life sentences, plus an additional 10 years for the burglary charge.

So, I'm not expecting this judge to be moved to the point of rejecting that deal from the prosecution and putting perhaps the death penalty back on the table. But these statements are so important, not just for the judge, but for the family. It gives families an opportunity to confront the perpetrator, as we see in this case, and for many, it gives them a great deal of closure. So, very important part of our prosecutorial process.

RAJU: So, just to be clear, the judge is not bound by this plea deal that took the death penalty off the table. Is that correct?

MARTIN: That's correct. Judges ultimately have the final word, the final decision about what plea or -- I'm sorry, what sentence someone will receive, even in a case such as this where the prosecution has clearly worked very hard with the defense attorneys to come up with this agreement.

[12:35:00]

Now, clearly, the prosecutors must believe that the judge is going to accept their recommendation of these four consecutive life sentences, but ultimately, the judge could reject this plea and could move forward with trial or could make some other determination about the sentencing. RAJU: Yeah, we'll see if that happens. Many of the family members who spoke in court today, Areva, did not address the defendant by name. What do you make of that? It seemed like an intentional choice.

MARTIN: Oh, absolutely. They said very clearly that they have all agreed to call him by his initials, KB. They don't want to give him the stature. They don't want to give him the respect of even acknowledging him. And Manu, we saw something shift, as Jean said, when the family of Kaylee started to address him, the dad moving the podium to look directly at the defendant, using some pretty descriptive language, obviously very angry, not talking so much about their pain, but really focusing in on him and describing him as a loser, calling him stupid, really expressing their anger, expressing what they hope will happen to him once he is behind those prison walls.

So again, a very powerful, but also very angry expressions from this family, expressing the emotions that they are feeling because of the death, the murder of their daughter.

RAJU: And there's been so many questions, Areva, about this case and about the motive of Kohberger, why he did what he did. Why do you think in the plea deal he did not have to reveal his motive?

MARTIN: It is not required by law for the expression of the motive to be included in the plea deal. All that this defendant had to do, and this is very typical in these types of plea deals, is to admit to guilt, plead guilty, and that for many prosecutors and defense attorneys is enough. Now, clearly, the public, clearly these victims' families want to know the motive, but the reality is, Manu, it may not be some big expression, as I think many folks are hoping. Sometimes people commit murders just because there's an opportunity to do so.

So, I know these families are incredibly frustrated and angry about the fact that the motive was not a part of it. And we saw Kaylee's sister almost doing a mini cross-examination during her victim's impact statement, asking the kinds of questions that theoretically would be asked if there were a trial and if this defendant did take the witness stand. Now, of course, unlikely that either of those things are going to happen, but she did pose a series of questions that went to the issue of motive.

RAJU: Yeah. All right, Areva Martin, we'll see whether Kohberger decides to address the court, that's an option for him as well, and that could happen sometime this afternoon. We'll see what happens there. Thank you so much for your expertise. Appreciate it, Areva Martin. And there's a lot to talk about. We're going to keep following the trial. So stay with us as we take a very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:42:45]

RAJU: Following the Breaking News in a courtroom in Idaho where victims of the families who -- the victims who were murdered in the grizzly case involving Bryan Kohberger, who has pleaded guilty to four -- to murdering four University of Idaho students. Those family members now giving these impact statements, let's listen.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE, SISTER OF XANA KERNODLE: -- isn't about you. It's about justice for Xana, Ethan, Kaylee, and Maddie. It's about honoring the beautiful people they were and still are in God's eyes. On November 13th, 2022, piece of my heart was ripped away. There's no way to ever fully describe the weight of losing my sister and my best friend. No sentence or punishment will ever come close to the justice Xana, Ethan, Kaylee, and Maddie deserve.

Xana was everyone's best friend. She was the kind -- she was kind. She was funny. She was a gift to each person she was able to make an impact on. Xana was someone I turned to when I needed direction or advice. Although I am her older sister, I often found myself looking up to her. She had a radiant energy that everyone loved and she always knew the right way to approach a problem. She knew how precious and special life was, and she truly did live every day to the fullest. Yet, her story was cut short by an act of evil.

I believe in God whose justice is not bound by this courtroom. I find peace knowing that judgment ultimately belongs to him. For your sake, I hope one day you feel the full weight of what you did. I hope you take accountability. I hope you truly experience the guilt and you surrender yourself to Jesus Christ, because no punishment on this earth can ever compare to the isolation and pain of eternal separation from God. Xana deserved more. They all did. But I come here to say this, I am strong. I am brave.

[12:45:00]

I'm a fighter just like Xana, and you don't get to control how I move forward or what I believe. I walk with the comfort of knowing I will see my sister again. Xana didn't get the future she deserved. She won't be the maid of honor at my wedding, the cool aunt to my future children. I'll never hear her laugh or see her light up a room ever again. But I will carry her with me for the rest of my life. I will live in her honor, fight to be the best kind of woman and someone she's proud of, to make sure the world never forgets who she was.

Xana's story doesn't end with what was taken from her. It lives through the love she gave, the people she touched, and the legacy our family will protect. Her light still shines and her voice will echo louder than this pain. You didn't take that from us, and you never will.

JUDGE STEVEN HIPPLER, IDAHO 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

JEFF KERNODLE, FATHER OF XANA KERNODLE: I just want to say before I start, I'm Xana's dad, Jeff Kernodle. It's been a hard road down because she's gone and I want to thank everybody, (inaudible) families that speaking so far spoke about things, I agree with everything they have to say. It all comes back to a lot of the same things that I've had to deal with and we as a family have had to deal with. And that brings me, basis of what I'm talking about a little bit is on my way up here, flying up here on the plane and about halfway through the flight, this little girl was calling out for her dad. Hey, dad, dad, dad, and then in my mind, I was kind of half asleep. It was dark on the lane. I heard Xana calling out for me like she did back when she was little, five years old.

And those times were hard. It was chaotic, but we always had something to work toward that was in a positive direction, compared to right now, which is necessarily not as positive as that for sure. And I (inaudible) I miss Xana a lot. My life has been changed and then -- and Xana had a great impact on me. And the impact was when she was gone, I realized how important she was. And what she really did for me, influenced me was way beyond what I ever thought.

She'd call me up on the weekends, check on me, see who's with me. She's like accountability your youngest daughter. And that really is what made a big difference. It made me really think about things and what it's all about, you know? That's the things that I miss the most, is those calls on the weekends, the calls that (inaudible) and I, oh, what's going on? You want to meet my friend? Whoever she's with, a couple of her friends. I can meet them, talk to them. And she always did that and it's pretty cool, pretty cool. I really miss that.

And that has -- she made a big impact on me, on other people, her family. But the impact that she made is so extensive on what happened here. And it goes so far, people from everywhere in the world are following things and Xana has made a difference in their lives. So, countless people show me that they might not even know her -- don't even know her. They never knew anything about her. It's what they see. And they just are -- they just love her and say how they wish that she could have been their friend, could have been their friend, could hung out.

And it's like, this is just -- this is a blessing, you know, this is the whole (ph) kid was, and definitely was a big, big blessing in my life. And so is Jazzmin. And basically, we worked hard to do the things we did through the times they were growing up. And through those times, I realized that I wanted both of them to graduate college. And that'd be the ultimate thing for them to do, to prepare for the world.

[12:50:00]

Then it -- then it came back to me, Xana didn't get to finish college. She had it all figured out. And this all came back to me when I -- when I was there and that little girl was on the plane doing that. It's like where I was going, what I was going here for, and then I just realized and thought to myself about the wonderful life that she had and we had together and we, I still could have with Jazzmin, but that's the part that really counted. It's the part that really counted is those memories. And those are what I have left.

The memories with her and the ones I can make with her, and the life that I can go on with now, which is what she wants. And I say that in present tense because that's what she wants because I've been told that, I've had countless ways that she's out there and has a way to communicate, which I'm very grateful for. That goes to say that the impact of what happened to them, all the four kids, goes so much further than just not me, the parents, the families, the community. It goes so far because a lot of kids, in colleges, just for an example, they lock their doors now. Their door wasn't locked in the back. Penn State or wherever it was, all the colleges, I know that -- I've heard they all locked their doors now. So maybe the impact that it's going to make is going to help out and maybe protect some people.

Having this outreach and having the influence of what these kids -- what happened to these kids did, you know? All I know is I was seven miles away when it happened and I had a -- she wasn't feeling that good. It was 11:30 and I almost went over to Susannah's (ph) to stay, and I would've been sitting right there on that couch and you want to deal with me. So, they would've had a chance. And I regret that. And I regret not going. But the reason why I didn't is because Xana said don't be drinking and driving. You got the rental car, don't be drinking and driving, the week before that.

So, she was -- she would've been mad at me to do that, but I really wish I would've drunk and drove because they would've had a chance, all four of them. At this point, I just have to go on. We go on with everything. It make things better in my life because that's what -- that's what it's all about. About closure in things and the part that we miss is Xana, her influence, her smile, the things that she did. And we have the memories left, the great memories. And she just wants us to make more memories and not be sad or upset or shocked or taken for that, and that's what we're going to do. We just have to. That's all I got.

HIPPLER: Thank you for your words and your courage. Bless your family.

(APPLAUSE)

RAJU: Remarkably emotional courtroom as the family members, the fourth slain University of Idaho students address Bryan Kohberger face-to-face before his sentencing. Attorney and Legal Affairs Commentator, Areva Martin, is back with us. So Areva, what are we expecting for the rest of the day? And do we expect Kohberger himself to address the courtroom?

MARTIN: Well, Manu, we're going to continue to hear from these family members, whether it's the parents, the grandparents, or the siblings of these victims. As you've stated, just very powerful statements from these victims about the impact these murders have had on their lives. Some of the victims' families actually addressing the defendant, telling him how angry they are about what he has done. After each of the family members are given an opportunity to give their statements, the court will ask the attorneys for the defendant, if he would like to make a statement.

Now, it is not required for him to do so. He's already pled guilty. He's already addressed this court, stating that he understands what he has done. He understands the consequences of his plea. Not likely, as much as these families would like to hear from this defendant and would like for him to give a statement about why he engaged in this heinous conduct, why he murdered their four college students.

[12:55:00]

I'm not expecting this defendant, Manu, to address this court because that has not been the pattern of what we've seen. Statements have been made by his attorneys, and I expect that will continue today.

RAJU: Yeah, there so many questions about why he committed this heinous, heinous crime and so much powerful testimony from inside that courtroom. Areva Martin, thank you for sharing your analysis and insight. And we will continue to follow the sentencing hearing for Bryan Kohberger. "CNN News Central" will start after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)