Laken Riley verdict: Jose Ibarra discovered responsible on all costs in killing of Georgia nursing pupil

The suspect accused of murdering Laken Riley on the College of Georgia’s campus was discovered responsible on all costs 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 could possibly 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 pupil whereas she was out for a run after prosecutors mentioned she “refused to be his rape sufferer.” Jose Ibarra, an undocumented migrant, was charged with malice homicide and felony homicide in connection along with her loss of life, 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 could possibly be heard within the courtroom as he learn his verdict.

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

Particular prosecutor Sheila Ross instructed the courtroom Jose Ibarra encountered Riley whereas she was on her morning jog on Feb. 22 whereas he was out “searching” for girls on the Athens campus.

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

“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 mentioned throughout her closing argument on Wednesday.

A forensics professional testified that Jose Ibarra’s DNA was discovered underneath Riley’s proper fingernails, and that his two brothers, who lived with him in an condo 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 mentioned. He additionally had scratches on his neck and again, which Ross mentioned might have solely been left by Riley.

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

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

Prosecutors argued Jose Ibarra hindered Riley from making a 911 name, and mentioned his thumbprint was left on her telephone. Knowledge from his Samsung telephone and the Garmin watch Riley was carrying on her run confirmed the gadgets overlapped and have been in shut proximity within the forest the place she was discovered useless, an FBI analyst testified.

Jose Ibarra was captured on Ring footage discarding a bloodied jacket and disposable gloves close to his condo about quarter-hour after Riley died, prosecutors mentioned. 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 professional mentioned. Jose Ibarra’s DNA was additionally discovered on the jacket, whereas his two brothers have been excluded as matches, the professional mentioned.

“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 search out him,” Ross mentioned.