Graphic body camera evidence is being shown in the trial of the undocumented migrant accused of murdering Georgia college student Laken Riley.
Rebekah Riess, Devon M. Sayers, Holly Yan, Nick Valencia and Amanda MusaThe judge granted the defense's motion for a bench trial for the suspect, Jose Ibarra, during a hearing in Athens-Clarke County on Tuesday.
Jose Ibarra, accused of killing a Georgia nursing student earlier this year, listens during his trial at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Athens, Ga.Sgt. Kenneth Maxwell could be heard gasping as he found Riley before immediately calling in his discovery, the video showed.
"The evidence will show that Laken fought. She fought for her life. She fought for her dignity. And in that fight, she caused this defendant to leave forensic evidence behind," said prosecutor Sheila Ross. Video that prosecutors say shows Ibarra disposing evidence in a dumpster about 15 minutes after Riley is believed to have died was also played in court during open statements.
Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard will decide the fate of Jose Antonio Ibarra, the undocumented migrant charged with murder and aggravated assault with intent to rape in connection with Riley's death. Ibarra, 26, waived his right to a jury trial during a court hearing this week. Ibarra was indicted on 10 counts: malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a person making an emergency call, tampering with evidence and peeping Tom, according to the indictment.
Ibarra was arrested in 2022 after entering the US illegally and was "paroled and released for further processing," US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. Ibarra was arrested the day after Riley's death. Investigators have said there is no evidence he and Riley knew each other, and police described the killing as a "crime of opportunity."
Democrats have also invoked Riley's death in political speeches. While campaigning for presidential candidate Kamala Harris in October, former President Bill Clinton, supporting Biden's attempt to secure the border, lambasted Trump for scuttling a bipartisan border security bill earlier this year. Local law enforcement agencies that do not cooperate with immigration officials could lose state funding, and local officials who do not work with immigration authorities could face misdemeanor charges.
"It makes me very concerned about the safety of people who look like me," said Lewis, an immigrant from Jamaica. Riley's father, Jason Riley, told NBC News in March he felt "angry" that his daughter's case has been "used politically to get those votes." While he said he supports Trump and the need to secure the southern border, Riley's father told NBC he'd prefer his daughter's death "not be so political."
"There was an undocumented immigrant who murdered a woman running in the woods. She was just going to run in the woods." he said. "I would say this situation has affected me more in hearing my friends who are girls not feel safe. That's how it's affecting me more, to be honest."
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