A Georgia judge has denied Jose Ibarra’s request for a new trial in the high-profile killing of Laken Riley, upholding his murder conviction and life-without-parole sentence in a case that drew national attention and became central in immigration debates.
H. Patrick Haggard of the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court rejected the defense’s motion, which argued that Ibarra’s constitutional rights were violated before trial. Lawyers had sought additional time for a DNA expert to review evidence and challenged the use of cellphone data by prosecutors.
Ibarra was convicted in November 2024 on all 10 counts, including malice and felony murder, after waiving his right to a jury trial. Riley, 22, was killed in February 2024 near the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia.
Judge Haggard described the prosecution’s case as “overwhelming and powerful” and concluded that the defense had ample opportunity to challenge the DNA evidence during trial. Regarding cellphone evidence, the judge ruled that investigators were justified in the initial seizure due to urgent circumstances and subsequently obtained warrants for the searches.
The decision preserves one of Georgia’s most closely watched murder convictions in recent years. Riley’s death became a prominent topic during the 2024 presidential campaign, with Republicans, including Donald Trump, citing the case to advocate for stricter immigration enforcement. At the time, campaign spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that Trump was committed to “ensur[ing] that no other family endures the tragedy of losing a child at the hands of an illegal immigrant,” according to Reuters.
Ibarra’s attorneys have indicated they plan to appeal the ruling. Under Georgia law, filing a motion for a new trial extends the deadline to submit a notice of appeal until the motion is resolved, making Judge Haggard’s order a critical procedural step in moving the case to a higher court.
The case also influenced federal policy. Soon after returning to office, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which mandates that the Homeland Security secretary detain certain noncitizens charged with crimes in the United States, among other provisions.
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