Laken Hope Riley, a former University of Georgia student enrolled in a nursing program, was brutally murdered while out for a run in Athens. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan man in the U.S. illegally, is charged with her murder and has chosen a bench trial over a jury trial. The charges against him include murder, assault, battery, hindering a 911 call, and peeping tom. The trial is set to unfold in Clarke County Superior Court, with Ibarra’s fate to be decided by Judge Patrick Haggard. The prosecution will be led by special prosecutor Sheila Ross, with Ibarra represented by a team of attorneys. Evidence in the trial will focus on the day Riley’s body was found with severe head injuries. Ibarra was identified as a suspect after being seen discarding bloody clothing in a dumpster near the scene. He was later arrested, and subsequent hearings have taken place to determine the admissibility of evidence. In response to Riley’s death, UGA and Athens announced safety upgrades on campus and in the city. The trial will aim to determine Ibarra’s guilt and decide on appropriate punishment if convicted.
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Trial Outcome for Murder Suspect in Laken Riley Case Set for Friday
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