An undocumented migrant accused of murdering nursing student Laken Riley waived his right to a jury trial during a chilling courtroom exchange.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, stared coldly ahead in Georgia’s Superior Court on Tuesday as Judge H. Patrick Haggard approved his request for a judge-only trial.
He is accused of killing Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University College, on February 22 as she was out for a run.
Ibarra required a translator during court proceedings on Tuesday. He was warned that he cannot backtrack on his decision to forego a jury trial.
The 26-year-old is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. His arrest sparked renewed debate about the border crisis and illegal migration.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, stared coldly ahead in Georgia’s Superior Court on Tuesday as Judge H. Patrick Haggard approved his request for a judge-only trial
He is accused of killing Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the Augusta University College, on February 22 as she was out for a run
He was indicted on 10 counts, including charges of murder, kidnapping and aggravated assault with intent to rape.
Ibarra’s legal team had sought to have certain evidence suppressed, but the request was denied.
Riley’s body was found less than an hour after she was reported missing, near a lake on the University of Georgia campus. She’d been a student there until 2023, when she transferred to Augusta.
Police were able to track Ibarra using campus security footage and allege there was physical evidence at the scene.
Riley had been struck in the head with a rock multiple times.
An undocumented migrant accused of murdering nursing student Laken Riley waived his right to a jury trial during a chilling courtroom exchange
Riley’s body was found less than an hour after she was reported missing, near a lake on the University of Georgia campus. She’d been a student there until 2023, when she transferred to Augusta
There is no evidence the duo knew one another, police allege. They described the crime as one of ‘opportunity.’
Ibarra had previous run-ins with law enforcement since arriving in the United States via El Paso, Texas, illegally.
He was paroled in 2022 for ‘further processing’ after entering America, and was then arrested in New York City in September 2013. Police allegedly released him ‘before a detainer could be issued.’
New York officials claimed there was no record of Ibarra’s arrest.
His older brother, who also entered the United States illegally, has ties to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, blamed Riley’s death on President Joe Biden and his border policies.
Ibarra pleaded not guilty to the charges. His judge-only trial will begin 9am on Friday.
Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, blamed Riley’s death on President Joe Biden and his border policies
Trump rally attendees at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia on Saturday, March 9, 2024 hold posters with images of Laken Riley