Jose Ibarra Appeals Murder Conviction in Laken Riley Case Amid Legal Controversies

Fri Jan 30 2026 11:47:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan man convicted of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, is set to appear in court for arguments regarding his new trial request, amidst ongoing immigration debates.

Jose Ibarra, convicted of the murder of Laken Riley in 2024, is requesting a new trial due to alleged violations of his constitutional rights during the original proceedings. The case, which has become a focal point in the national immigration debate, has drawn attention to legal standards used during the trial, especially surrounding the evidence obtained from cellphones. Ibarra's attorneys argue that crucial evidence should have been excluded, while prosecutors maintain the trial was fair. The outcome of this appeal could have wider implications for immigration policies and legal procedures in similar cases.

Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan man convicted of murdering nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia, is scheduled to appear in court Friday as he seeks a new trial. Ibarra, who entered the United States illegally and was allowed to remain while pursuing his immigration case, was found guilty in November 2024 for Riley's death, which has intensified debates around immigration policies nationally.

The Laken Riley Act, named in memory of the student, was one of the first pieces of legislation signed by President Donald Trump, mandating the detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with violent crimes and thefts. Prosecutors allege that Ibarra attacked Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024, leading to her tragic death.

Ibarra's legal team asserts that his constitutional rights were infringed upon when the trial judge denied their request to delay proceedings for an expert to review evidence. They also claim the judge wrongfully admitted cellphone evidence they sought to exclude, and are appealing for the guilty verdict to be overturned.

The trial has raised significant questions about the judicial treatment of defendants within the context of immigration and crime, as well as the legal principles surrounding evidence admissibility. The court will conduct hearings on these matters under the supervision of Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, who handled Ibarra's case without a jury trial.

As the legal battle progresses, the implications for immigration policy and legal rights in similar cases will continue to be closely scrutinized, reflecting broader societal concerns regarding the intersection of crime, immigration, and justice.