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.
