The mom of Laken Riley — the Georgia nursing scholar allegedly murdered by an unlawful immigrant — wiped away tears Friday, as a decide set a trial date for her daughter’s suspected killer.
Allyson Phillips and her husband, John Phillips, sat within the galley in the course of the standing listening to. Allyson sniffled as she entered the courtroom, prompting particular prosecutor Sheila Ross to consolation her earlier than the suspect, Jose Ibarra, got here in, Fox Information reported.
Athens-Clarke County Superior Courtroom Decide H. Patrick Haggard set Ibarra’s trial for November 18, with jury choice starting 5 days earlier.
Venezuelan migrant Ibarra, 26 — who illegally got here into the US over the southern border — is accused of killing 22-year-old Laken as she went for a run close to the College of Georgia campus in Athens final February.
UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark referred to as the incident a “crime of alternative.”
Riley’s dying rocked the nation — sparking fierce dialog over the Biden administration’s border insurance policies that’s allowed a whole bunch of 1000’s of migrants to pour into the nation every month.
In line with her post-mortem, the aspiring nurse died of asphyxiation and blunt-force trauma to her head. Her physique was discovered about 5 minutes away from Ibarra’s residence, in line with a police report.
Ibarra has been charged with malice homicide, felony homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency phone name, tampering with proof, and spying.
Along with going through 10 counts in reference to Riley’s homicide, Ibarra faces additional expenses for allegedly peeping at a UGA employees member on the identical day because the slaying.
Prosecutors will search a sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole.
Ibarra entered the US illegally in El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, however was launched after a couple of day in custody, in line with Immigration and Customs Enforcement insiders.
The Venezuelan nationwide then made his option to New York Metropolis, the place he lived in a shelter offered by town, whereas posting photos of himself smiling at Large Apple landmarks.
Ibarra, who has been linked to the Venezuelan gang El Tren de Aragua, was arrested in New York for little one endangerment. He was charged with a felony and launched.
Later, Ibarra was charged with inexperienced card fraud after he introduced law enforcement officials with a pretend everlasting residency card.
Ibarra didn’t communicate in Friday’s listening to. As they left the courthouse, Riley’s household declined to deal with the media.
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