The trial for the man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley is underway. Proceedings against Jose Ibarra began Friday morning in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. Judge H. Patrick Haggard heard opening statements from prosecutors and defense attorneys, as well as testimony from several witnesses. Prosecutor Shelia Ross.
“On February 22nd, Jose Ibarra put on a black hat, a hoodie-style jacket, and some black, kitchen-style, disposable gloves and he went hunting for females on the University of Georgia’s Campus,” according to Ross. “And in his hunt, he encountered 22-year-old Laken Riley.”
Ross said when Riley fought back and refused to be a rape victim, Ibarra killed her. Defense attorney Dustin Kirby said the evidence in the case is graphic and disturbing, but that it does not prove his client is guilty.
“The evidence in this case is very good that Laken Riley was murdered,” Kirby said. “The evidence that Jose Ibarra killed Laken Riley is circumstantial.”
Ibarra is facing several charges including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and more.
