ATHENS–CLARKE COUNTY, Ga. — A judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday on a motion for a new trial filed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, the Venezuelan national convicted in the killing of nursing student Laken Riley.
Ibarra was found guilty in November 2024 on murder and related charges stemming from the February 2024 death of the 22-year-old. His request for a new trial challenges the conviction on constitutional grounds.
Defense attorneys argue Ibarra’s rights were violated when the trial judge denied a continuance that would have allowed defense experts more time to review critical DNA evidence. They also object to the admission of disputed cellphone data, claiming the search warrants lacked probable cause and questioning the reliability of the software used to analyze DNA.
Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, and Judge H. Patrick Haggard presided over the bench trial, ultimately sentencing him to life in prison without parole on all counts.
Riley’s death, which occurred while she was out for a run on the University of Georgia campus, ignited a national debate over immigration policy. The case later led to the passage of the Laken Riley Act, signed into law in 2025, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft or violent crimes.