Laken Riley murder trial updates: Court ends for the day; Suspect Jose Ibarra’s brother expected to testify Wednesday
Jose Ibarra could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in the February killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley
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Laken Riley’s accused killerJose Ibarra will not testify in his own defense as his murder trial begans to wind down after just three days of testimony.
Ibarra, 26, a Venezuelan native who entered the US illegally, is charged with murder in the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was found dead on the Athens campus running trails in February.
The state rested its case on Tuesday afternoon after presenting 29 witnesses. Two witnesses for the defense took the stand and two more are expected tomorrow, including Ibarra’s brother, Diego.
Prosecutors say that on February 22, Ibarra hit Riley in the head with a rock while he was out “hunting for females” on campus. Dr. Michelle DiMarco, a GBI medical examiner who conducted the autopsy, testified that Riley’s injuries “could be consistent with a rock.”
A GBI specialist testified Riley’s DNA was found on two rocks at the scene. Riley’s DNA and Ibarra’s DNA were both found on a jacket that was retrieved from a dumster at Ibarra’s apartment comlex.
The murder case became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration during this year’s presidential campaign.
What we know about Jose Antonio Ibarra, the man on trial for murdering a Georgia student Laken Riley
As her alleged killer goes on trial, how Laken Riley’s brutal murder became a bitterly divisive political issue- Everything we know about the Laken Riley case as murder trial under way
Laken Riley ‘fought for her life’ against killer who was ‘hunting for females’ on day of murder, trial hears
Bodycam footage shows moment Jose Ibarra was confronted by police
Gloves found in a bush near Jose Ibarra’s home match gloves in his room, GBI analyst says
Alexander Covin, a microanalyst with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, testified on Tuesday that gloves found discarded in a bush near Jose Ibarra’s apartment after Laken Riley’s murder match the ones found inside a drawer in his home.
“My conclusions were that the black disposable gloves that were recovered from the bush, are like the disposable gloves that were recovered from the apartment, and could have originated from the same source,” Covin said.
Covin added that the gloves were “not plasticized, so not latex or rubber,” and that if the gloves “were to be strained, or pulled, or stretched in any way, they may tear more easily.”
Medical examiner says Laken Riley died from blunt-force head trauma and asphyxia
Dr. Michelle DiMarco, an associate medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, took the stand on Tuesday and testified about Laken Riley’s cause of death.
She said it was the combined effects of blunt-force head trauma and asphyxia. The manner of death was homicide.
DiMarco also testified about the injuries Riley had to her face that “could be consistent with a rock.”
There were no signs of sexual assault, she testified.
An emotional day in court
Lauren Phillips, the younger sister of Laken Riley, and Riley’s roommate, Connolly Huth, become emotional during the trial for Jose Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Gloves, hat, discarded jacket tested positive for blood: crime lab tech
Katrina Ostapovicz, a forensic serologist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab, testified that back disposable gloves, a navy blue jacket, a cutting from a tree, two rocks and a black Adidas hat all tested presumptively positive for the presence of blood.
A red-brown stain that appeared to be the color of blood was found on the jacket. She described the gloves found near the crime scene as having holes in them.
The items were sent for further DNA testing.
State rests case against Jose Ibarra
The state has rested its case against Jose Ibarra after three days of testimony.
Ibarra will not testify in his defense.
The defense will now present their case.
Laken Riley's fingernail clippings sample matched Jose Ibarra’s DNA
GBI crime lab scientist Ashley Hinkle testified that the DNA from Riley’s fingernail clippings was linked to the genetic profile of Jose Ibarra.
Hinkle also testified that Riley and Ibarra were the only two people who contributed to the DNA profile on a cutting of the blue jacket found in a dumpster near Ibarra’s apartment.
Samples from the rocks and tree at the crime scene, along with samples from the black gloves found in the bush outside Ibarra’s apartment were only conclusive for Riley’s DNA, she said.
Jose Ibarra will not testify
Jose Antonio Ibarra said through an interpreter that he will not testify in his defense at his murder trial.
He confirmed his decision after being asked by Judge H. Patrick Haggard if he understands his right not to testify, to which Ibarra answered “Si.”
When asked by the judge if he wants to testify, Ibarra said no and shook his head.
First defense witness testifies about seeing person in dark clothes on running trails on day of Laken Riley’s murder
Joseph Clementi is the first witness for the defense. The 22-year-old was running on the same trails as Riley on February 22.
He testified about calling the campus police the following day to report seeing a person in dark clothing with a hood or cap wandering around near the retention pond.
He said he noticed the person because they were not wearing any sort of athletic-style clothing. It was about 9:39 a.m. according to his Nike run club app.
Clementi said he saw the person “for a split second” and admitted that he could not identify his race.
Second defense witness claims suspect’s brother Diego threatened to kill her
Stephanie Slaton, who lives in the same apartment complex as Jose Ibarra and his brothers, testified that Diego, who she admitted to having a sexual relationship with, threatened to kill her if she told police anything about Laken Riley’s murder.
She told the court that on the day of Riley’s murder, she told him about it and said if he knows anything, because he walks the trails behind the apartment, then he should tell police.
She explained that she does not speak much Spanish but according to her Google translate app, he said, “If you tell them I will tell them you did it and I will kill you.”
Under cross examination, Slaton admitted she had a sexual relationship with Diego Ibarra, and was under the influence of alcohol at the time she spoke with GBI investigators on February 23, in which she relayed the same story she told in court.