ATLANTA — A Venezuelan man, Jose Ibarra, who was found guilty of murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley in February, is seeking a new trial after being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case was overseen by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, as Ibarra chose to forgo his right to a jury trial. Following a thorough examination of the evidence, Judge Haggard convicted Ibarra on multiple charges relating to the murder.
On Monday, Ibarra’s legal team submitted a motion requesting a new trial, asserting that the verdict was “contrary to law” and “contrary to the evidence.” The attorneys also indicated that legal errors during the trial warranted another examination of the case. They have stated their intention to provide further details to support their motion in the future, following a comprehensive review of the case’s background and circumstances.
This high-profile case has drawn national attention and sparked discussions surrounding immigration policy, particularly during this year’s presidential election season. Following his arrest, federal immigration officials revealed that Ibarra had entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2022 and had been allowed to remain while addressing his immigration process.
Prosecutors reported that Ibarra confronted Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus on February 22, leading to a violent encounter that resulted in her tragic death. Riley was a dedicated nursing student at Augusta University, which has a campus located in Athens, roughly 70 miles east of Atlanta.
On November 20, Judge Haggard found Ibarra guilty on all ten charges presented and imposed the maximum sentence permissible by law for each count.
According to Georgia law, a notice of appeal must be submitted within 30 days following a conviction’s finalization, determined by either the sentencing date or the ruling on a motion for a new trial. Consequently, the motion filed by Ibarra effectively extends the time frame for filing an appeal.
