LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- A Louisville father turned a pre-trial court appearance into a confession after being charged with the murder of his stepson.
In arraignment court, suspects rarely make any statements, but Josh Gouker was the exception when he sat in a Jefferson County court room Monday.
'Your honor I just want to say that I didn't help anyone kill Trey. I killed Trey myself. I just want to say I killed Trey myself,' Gouker said.
Gouker admitted to the murder of his stepson 14-year-old Trey Zwicker. Is it the truth or is Gouker's confession an attempt to spare his son, Josh Young, who is also accused of killing Zwicker.
Assistant Commonwealth's attorney Elizabeth Jones Brown said their evidence shows Gouker instructed 16-year-old Young to kill Zwicker. According to court documents, Gouker was upset with Zwicker's mother for aborting their baby and killed Trey out of revenge.
'What he said, Josh Young had nothing to do with it, today in court and that's not what the evidence shows,' Brown said.
By law Gouker couldn't enter a guilty plea, but if he does officially enter a plea prosecutors said they are not making any deals.
'If he wants to plead guilty in court that's his right we do not anticipate any deals with him,' Brown said.
Gouker is being held at the Roederer Correctional Complex in Oldham County, his bond set at $1,000,000. Gouker is due back in court next month.
WHAS11 will talk with Trey Zwicker's father later and we will have his reaction to the confession coming up on 11 at 11.
