ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Opening statements are anticipated Friday within the trial of the person accused of killing a Georgia nursing pupil, in a case that helped fan the immigration debate over the last election cycle.
Jose Ibarra is charged with homicide and different crimes within the February killing of Laken Hope Riley, whose physique was discovered on the College of Georgia Campus. Ibarra waived his proper to a jury trial, that means his case might be heard and determined by Athens-Clarke County Superior Courtroom Decide H. Patrick Haggard.
Prosecutors are anticipated to attempt to show that Ibarra hit the 22-year-old Augusta College School of Nursing pupil within the head, asphyxiated her and meant to sexually assault her. They’ve chosen to not search the demise penalty, however they stated in a court docket submitting that they meant to hunt a sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole.
The killing added gas to the nationwide debate over immigration when federal authorities stated Ibarra, who’s Venezuelan, illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to remain to pursue his immigration case.
Republicans, together with President-elect Donald Trump, blamed Democratic President Joe Biden’s border insurance policies for her demise. As he spoke about border safety throughout his State of the Union deal with simply weeks after the killing, Biden talked about Riley by identify.
Riley’s physique was discovered on Feb. 22 close to working trails after a pal instructed police she had not returned from a morning run. Police have stated her killing gave the impression to be a random assault. Ibarra was arrested the following day and is being held within the Athens-Clarke County Jail with out bond.
Ibarra is charged with one depend of malice homicide, three counts of felony homicide and one depend every of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency phone name, tampering with proof and being a peeping Tom.
Prosecutors say that on the day of Riley’s killing, Ibarra peered into the window of an residence in a college housing constructing, which is the idea for the peeping Tom cost.
Forward of the trial, protection attorneys unsuccessfully tried to have the proceedings moved out of Athens, a metropolis of about 130,000 individuals in northeastern Georgia. Additionally they wished to have the peeping Tom cost dealt with individually and to exclude some proof and skilled testimony.