The suspect accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley pleaded not guilty in Clarke County Superior Court Friday. 26-year-old Jose Ibarra was scheduled for arraignment at 11 am.
Authorities say on February 22, Ibarra encountered Riley while she was out for a run near Lake Herrick on the University of Georgia campus. He is accused of trying to rape Riley before hitting her in the head with a rock and trying to asphyxiate her. He is charged with 10 counts, including three counts of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, hindering a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and peeping Tom.
According to authorities, Ibarra who is from Venezuela, entered the U.S. illegally.
Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard presided over the proceedings. He plans to update lawyers in the status of the case in early August, with trial expected to begin in early fall. An attorney for Ibarra asked for 90 days to review the evidence.
