Trial Over Death of Georgia Nursing Student Laken Riley: Prosecution Concludes Presentation
ATHENS, Ga.—The trial of the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley saw prosecutors wrap up witness testimony on Tuesday, with the defense starting to present their case but encountering obstacles.
Jose Ibarra, 26, faces murder and other charges in Riley’s February death. Opting for a bench trial, he gave up the right to a jury, leaving Judge H. Patrick Haggard of Athens-Clarke County Superior Court to decide the case.
Riley’s killing on the University of Georgia campus stirred national controversy over immigration after revelations that Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. Despite this, he was permitted to remain in the country to pursue his immigration case. Riley, 22, attended Augusta University College of Nursing, which has a campus in Athens, located about 70 miles (115 kilometers) east of Atlanta.
The prosecution concluded its case on Tuesday, calling over a dozen law enforcement officers, Riley’s roommate, and a woman who lived with Ibarra in an apartment to testify. When asked if he would testify, Ibarra declined.
Defense attorneys aimed to have Ibarra’s brother, Diego Ibarra, testify. During the trial, they raised questions to cast doubt on Jose Ibarra’s culpability by suggesting Diego as a potential suspect.
Diego Ibarra pleaded guilty in July to possessing a fraudulent green card and is currently in federal immigration detention awaiting sentencing. Dressed in jail scrubs and restrained, he took the stand on Tuesday afternoon.
However, defense attorney John Donnelly informed the judge that Diego Ibarra now has a new attorney for his immigration case. The attorney would advise his client against testifying. Donnelly suggested calling another immigration detainee to discuss statements made by Diego Ibarra while in custody, but the judge expressed hearsay concerns and decided to address the matter the following day.
Earlier in the day, University of Georgia police Sgt. Sophie Raboud analyzed data from Riley’s phone, detailing the events leading to her death. Riley’s mother tried reaching her that morning, eventually learning from data that Riley had encountered Jose Ibarra on a running trail where the incident escalated, culminating in Riley’s passing.
Raboud also presented video footage from surveillance cameras near the trail, prompting emotional reactions from Riley’s loved ones witnessing her final moments.
Prosecutors alleged that Ibarra targeted Riley that morning, leading to a fatal struggle. Dr. Michelle DiMarco’s autopsy findings detailed significant injuries sustained by Riley, further corroborated by DNA evidence linking Ibarra to the crime scene.
While defense attorneys acknowledged the tragedy of Riley’s death, they argued that the evidence did not definitively connect Ibarra to the crime. Witness testimonies continued, with varying accounts presented in court.
By Kate Brumback
