Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley, has decided to waive his right to a jury trial. This means that his case will be heard only by a judge. The decision was made after Ibarra’s attorneys contacted the prosecutor last week. The judge, H. Patrick Haggard, confirmed that Ibarra willingly chose to have a bench trial.
The 10-count indictment against Ibarra includes charges of hitting, asphyxiating, and intending to sexually assault 22-year-old Riley. Prosecutors opted not to pursue the death penalty but are seeking a sentence of life in prison without parole. The trial was expected to begin with jury selection, but it will now proceed as a bench trial starting on Friday.
Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. After Riley’s tragic death, immigration became a contentious issue, with President-elect Donald Trump blaming then-President Joe Biden’s policies for the incident. Biden even mentioned Riley by name during a State of the Union address.
Riley’s body was discovered near running trails after she failed to return from a morning run. The police believe her murder was a random attack. Ibarra was arrested the following day and has been detained without bond at the Athens-Clarke County Jail.
The indictment against Ibarra includes charges such as malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and peeping Tom. The peeping Tom charge stems from an incident where Ibarra looked into the window of a university housing building on the day of Riley’s murder.
Despite efforts by the defense to change the location of the trial, handle charges separately, and exclude certain evidence, the trial will proceed as planned in Athens. The decision to waive the jury trial adds a new dimension to the case and will put the spotlight on the judge to deliver a fair and just verdict based on the evidence presented.
