A proposed trial date of November 18 has been set for Jose Ibarra, the suspect in the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley. The trial is expected to begin with jury selection on November 13 and conclude by Thanksgiving.
Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and other offenses in connection with the death of Laken Riley. On Friday, Ibarra appeared in court for a status hearing, where a proposed trial date of November 18 was set.
Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard scheduled the trial date after Ibarra pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment in late May. Haggard anticipates jury selection to commence on November 13 and aims to conclude the trial before Thanksgiving.
Jose Ibarra Set for Murder Trial in Laken Riley's Death
Laken Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, and stepfather, John Phillips, were present in court for the hearing. Phillips became emotional and was comforted by special prosecutor Sheila Ross before the hearing began. She later left the courtroom crying while holding a box of tissues.
Prosecutors intend to seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for Ibarra. Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was brutally attacked on February 22 while out for a run on dirt trails on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
Jose Ibarra Set for Murder Trial in Laken Riley's Death
According to an indictment, Ibarra is accused of causing Riley's death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and "asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors." He is also charged with spying on a university staff member through a window at an apartment on UGA's campus on the same day Riley was killed.
Ibarra is accused of acting out of opportunity, allegedly murdering Riley in the on-campus park where Riley was running. The scenic loop where Riley ran is easily accessible from Ibarra's apartment complex, located just a five-minute walk from the scene of the crime.
Jose Ibarra Set for Murder Trial in Laken Riley's Death
Public defender Kaitlyn Beck stated that the defense had received batches of evidence in the past two weeks. Judge Haggard is expected to schedule a hearing to discuss motions in September or early October.
The case has garnered national attention and raised questions about border security, as Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally. Riley's father has expressed the belief that the suspect "might not have been here" if the border were more secure.
Jose Ibarra Set for Murder Trial in Laken Riley's Death
Laken Riley's tragic death has left a lasting impact on her family and the University of Georgia community. The upcoming trial is expected to provide closure and justice for Riley's loved ones and determine the extent of Ibarra's responsibility in her untimely demise.
