The mother of murdered Augusta University student Laken Riley became emotional during a hearing where illegal immigrant suspect Jose Ibarra learned his proposed trial date of Nov. 18. Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally from Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in Riley's death during his arraignment in late May.
Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard set the proposed trial date, with jury selection anticipated to start on Nov. 13, aiming to conclude the trial by Thanksgiving.
Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, and stepfather, John Phillips, were present at the status hearing. Phillips showed visible emotion as she entered the courtroom, with special prosecutor Sheila Ross offering comfort before the proceedings began. Phillips later left the courtroom in tears, holding a box of tissues.
Ibarra faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and more. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life in prison without parole for the accused.
Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked on Feb. 22 while out for a run on dirt trails at the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
Judge Haggard is expected to schedule a hearing for motions in September or early October. The defense recently received batches of evidence related to the case.
The indictment states that Ibarra caused Riley's death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and asphyxiating her in an unknown manner. He is also accused of spying on a university staff member at UGA's 'University Village Housing Building ‘S'' on the same day as Riley's death.
Ibarra lived in an apartment near the park where Riley was running, with UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark describing the incident as a 'crime of opportunity.' The location of the crime scene was easily accessible from Ibarra's residence.
