The illegal immigrant accused of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley appeared in court Friday for a lengthy hearing ahead of his trial, slated for next month.
Venezuelan migrant Jose Ibarra, whose family has ties to the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang, wore a white striped shirt and headphones for translation as the hearing on four motions kicked off in preparation for the trial that is scheduled to begin on Nov. 13 with jury selection.
The 26-year-old is accused of murdering the Augusta University College Nursing student while she was on a morning run on the Athens campus in February — a case that became a flashpoint on immigration when it emerged Ibarra had entered the US illegally but was still released.
Judge H. Patrick Haggard is set to hear a motion to move Ibarra’s trial out of Athens on the grounds he wouldn’t be able to get a fair shake with jurors there because of publicity and local anger over his case.
Defense attorneys are also scheduled to argue that certain evidence and witnesses should be barred from trial and that the 10-count indictment should be broken into two separate trials, since a peeping Tom charge is connected to a separate victim.
Prosecutors say Ibarra peeped into the 22-year-old student’s university apartment window the day of her slaying. Her body was found close to her apartment on Feb. 22 after she failed to return home after her morning jog.
Ibarra allegedly pulled up her clothes to sexually assault her — then hit her on the head and asphyxiated her, prosecutors say.
Ibarra has pleaded not guilty to the 10 counts of malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault and related crimes.
He’s being held in jail without bail pending his trial.
The case sparked national debate since Ibarra entered the country illegally through El Paso, Texas, and was released by immigration authorities due to a lack of space.
Ibarra was then arrested in New York City in August 2023 for riding a gas-powered moped with a 5-year-old on the back without a helmet or belt.
He was released in that case before fleeing to Georgia to be with his brother Diego, one of the family members linked with the now-notorious Venezualuan gang Tren de Aragua, officials have said.
The pair got arrested there for allegedly stealing from a Walmart in September.
With Post wires