Laken Riley verdict: Jose Ibarra discovered responsible on all expenses in killing of Georgia nursing scholar

The suspect accused of murdering Laken Riley on the College of Georgia’s campus was discovered responsible on all expenses Wednesday, together with malice homicide and felony homicide.

Prosecutors referred to as the proof in opposition to the suspect “overwhelming,” whereas the protection raised the speculation that the defendant might be an confederate however not the killer throughout closing arguments in his trial.

Jose Ibarra, 26, was accused of killing the 22-year-old nursing scholar whereas she was out for a run after prosecutors stated she “refused to be his rape sufferer.” Jose Ibarra, an undocumented migrant, was charged with malice homicide and felony homicide in connection together with her dying, which turned a rallying cry for immigration reform from many conservatives, together with President-elect Donald Trump.

Jose Ibarra waived his proper to a jury trial and the case was offered over 4 days within the Athens-Clarke County courtroom to Decide H. Patrick Haggard, who rendered the decision on Wednesday.

Sobbing might be heard within the courtroom as he learn his verdict.

Prosecutors referred to as 28 witnesses whereas laying out what they stated was proof past an inexpensive doubt that Jose Ibarra killed Riley, who died by blunt pressure head trauma and asphyxia.

Particular prosecutor Sheila Ross informed the court docket Jose Ibarra encountered Riley whereas she was on her morning jog on Feb. 22 whereas he was out “looking” for girls on the Athens campus.

Ross stated Riley “fought for her life” in a battle that brought about Jose Ibarra to go away forensic proof behind. Digital and video proof additionally pointed to him as the one killer, she stated.

“The proof on this case has been overwhelming, and the proof on this case has spoken loud and clear — that he’s Laken Riley’s killer, and that he killed her as a result of she wouldn’t let him rape her,” Ross stated throughout her closing argument on Wednesday.

A forensics knowledgeable testified that Jose Ibarra’s DNA was discovered beneath Riley’s proper fingernails, and that his two brothers, who lived with him in an condominium close to the campus, have been excluded as matches.

When Jose Ibarra was questioned by police a day after the homicide, he had seen scratches on his arms, officers stated. He additionally had scratches on his neck and again, which Ross stated might have solely been left by Riley.

“To be able to not discover him responsible, you would need to disbelieve your individual eyes,” Ross stated.

“She marked him. She marked him for everybody to see. She marked him so that you can see,” Ross informed the choose.

Prosecutors argued Jose Ibarra hindered Riley from making a 911 name, and stated his thumbprint was left on her cellphone. Information from his Samsung cellphone and the Garmin watch Riley was sporting on her run confirmed the units overlapped and have been in shut proximity within the forest the place she was discovered lifeless, an FBI analyst testified.

Jose Ibarra was captured on Ring footage discarding a bloodied jacket and disposable gloves close to his condominium about quarter-hour after Riley died, prosecutors stated. The person’s face cannot be seen within the video, however Jose Ibarra’s roommate testified that it was him. The defendant’s brother, Diego Ibarra, additionally recognized him because the individual within the video whereas being questioned by police a day after the homicide.

Riley’s DNA was discovered on the jacket and gloves, the forensics knowledgeable stated. Jose Ibarra’s DNA was additionally discovered on the jacket, whereas his two brothers have been excluded as matches, the knowledgeable stated.

“That’s what we name consciousness of guilt in our enterprise — he threw away these objects as a result of he knew he had killed her, and he threw them away as a result of he did not need anybody to seek out him,” Ross stated.