Kohberger prosecutors say no as Idaho killer tries to boot judge who called him a 'faceless coward'

Convicted University of Idaho student murderer Bryan Kohberger is trying to remove the judge who called him a "faceless coward" and said he could find nothing "good or intrinsically human" about him at sentencing — but prosecutors say those remarks don't prove bias as the former criminology student fights to undo his guilty plea.

Judge Steven Hippler said Kohberger, 31, "slithered" into the victims' home before committing a crime that made him "the worst of the worst" after the killer admitted guilt last year. He also addressed the lack of a requirement that he explain himself as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

"Even if I could force him to speak, which legally I cannot, how could anyone ever be assured that what he speaks is the truth?" Hippler asked during sentencing. "Do we really believe, after all of this, he is capable of speaking the truth, or of giving up something of himself to help the very people whose lives he destroyed? Rather, I suspect the so-called reason would be dished out in enticing self-serving and aggrandizing untruthful bits, leaving people wanting more information, more insight, and thus enhancing even further the power he seeks to hold."

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The judge was also seen wiping tears from his eyes after hearing emotional victim impact statements.

Kohberger's new legal team filed a motion seeking Hippler's removal on Aug. 27, arguing he had made biased statements during the convicted killer's sentencing and had rushed the case toward trial when their client's former defense team wasn't ready.

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Prosecutors wrote that in order for a judge to be removed, "the motion must show that 'the judge is biased,'" italicizing the "is" for emphasis.

"None of petitioner's allegations against this Court — taken alone or together — have [met] that 'extremely high' bar," reads a filing signed by outgoing Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson, who announced his retirement earlier this week, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl.

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Scholl had previously asked the court for the transcripts from Kohberger's change of plea and sentencing hearings, in which the former criminology Ph.D. student admitted guilt and affirmed he was entering his plea knowingly and under no duress.

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The opposition filing argues that Hippler's statements about Kohberger after he'd admitted to killing four innocent students were not unusual or out of line.

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