A man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has chosen to waive his right to a trial by jury and proceed with a bench trial, where a judge will determine his guilt or innocence. The accused, a 26-year-old undocumented migrant from Venezuela named Jose Antonio Ibarra, made this decision with the prosecution's agreement.
Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard approved Ibarra's waiver during the court proceedings. Ibarra, speaking through a translator, expressed his understanding that this decision is final and cannot be reversed.
Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student at Augusta University College of Nursing, tragically lost her life on February 22 while out for a run on the University of Georgia's campus. The case has sparked controversy surrounding immigration due to Ibarra's legal status.
The shift to a bench trial occurred after Judge Haggard denied a motion from Ibarra's defense team to suppress certain evidence in the case. Ibarra was indicted in May on multiple charges, including murder and aggravated assault with intent to rape. He has maintained his plea of not guilty.
The trial, which was originally scheduled to begin with jury selection, will now commence as a bench trial starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, with further proceedings to follow on Monday as per Judge Haggard's instructions.
