Laken Riley murder: man jailed for life over killing of Georgia nursing student

A man from Venezuela has been found guilty of murder and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. This case has ignited a nationwide discussion on immigration in the context of this year's presidential campaign.

José Ibarra faced charges of murder and additional offenses related to Riley's death in February. On Wednesday, Judge H. Patrick Haggard of the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court delivered the guilty verdict.

Ibarra, who is 26 years old, chose to give up his right to have a jury trial, which means that only Haggard listened to the case and made the final decision.

Tears flowed from Riley's family and housemates as the decision was announced.

Haggard determined that Ibarra was guilty on all 10 charges. These included one charge of intentional murder, three charges of murder during the commission of a felony, and one charge each for kidnapping resulting in bodily harm, aggravated assault with the aim to commit rape, aggravated battery, interfering with an emergency call, tampering with evidence, and for being a voyeur.

Ibarra showed no obvious response. Family members had requested that the court impose a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Riley's younger sister, Lauren Phillips, who is a freshman at the University of Georgia, expressed how difficult it is to be without her "favorite person" and "greatest inspiration." She shared how her sister's passing has impacted her life. "I feel so scared of people like José Ibarra that I can't even walk around my own campus," she explained.

The murder intensified the nationwide discussion about immigration after federal officials revealed that Ibarra had entered the United States unlawfully in 2022 but was permitted to remain in the country while his immigration case was being processed.

The trial kicked off last Friday, with prosecutors bringing in over twelve witnesses, including law enforcement officers, Riley's roommates, and a woman who shared an apartment with Ibarra. On Tuesday, the defense attorneys presented their witnesses, which included a police officer, a jogger, and one of Ibarra's neighbors, and they concluded their case by Wednesday morning.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross informed the judge that Ibarra came across Riley as she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus on February 22 and fatally attacked her during a confrontation. Riley, who was 22 years old, was a nursing student at Augusta University, which has a campus located in Athens, roughly 70 miles (113 kilometers) east of Atlanta.

In his opening statement, defense lawyer Dustin Kirby referred to Riley's death as a tragedy and described the evidence presented in the case as shocking and unsettling. However, he argued that there was not enough proof to establish that his client was responsible for Riley's death.

Before the sentencing, defense lawyer John Donnelly requested that Haggard impose two consecutive life sentences on Ibarra, while also providing the chance for parole in the future.

Ross, the prosecutor, requested that the judge impose the harshest possible sentence, expressing that Riley’s family should not have to live in fear of Ibarra being let out. Before the trial began, the prosecution made the decision not to pursue the death penalty. "Her return is impossible, and it’s a tragic situation. What you can offer is some solace through your sentence," Ross stated.

Haggard eventually sentenced Ibarra to the harshest punishment available, which included a life term in prison without the chance for parole for the charge of malicious murder.

Riley's parents, housemates, and various friends and family filled the courtroom during the entire trial.