Public defenders are seeking a new trial for the man recently found guilty of the murder of nursing student Laken Riley at the University of Georgia. They argue that the judge’s ruling during the trial was not in line with the law and evidence presented.
The brief motion, filed Monday in the Superior Court of Athens-Clarke County, provides no details of contrariness and also says that the “Court committed other errors of law that necessitate a new trial.”
motion for a new trial by kc wildmoon on Scribd
Jose Ibarra was convicted on November 20 of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, obstruction of a 911 call, tampering, and peeping Tom. He had opted for a bench trial instead of a jury trial, and Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences, to be followed by other consecutive terms on the lesser sentences, as CrimeOnline reported. He was not given a chance at parole.
Ibarra, 26, was arrested after Riley, a 22-year-old student at the Augusta University College of Nursing, was found dead while out for a jog on the UGA campus in Athens.
Officials revealed that Ibarra, an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, illegally entered the United States in 2022 but was allowed to remain while working on his immigration case. It sparked heated discussions over border laws this year.
He lived in Athens with his brother.
