Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant convicted of the brutal murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, is seeking a new trial. His attorneys allege that legal errors during his trial warrant a retrial, according to a motion filed Monday in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court.
The filing claims the verdict delivered by Judge H. Patrick Haggard was “contrary to law” and unsupported by evidence. Ibarra, who waived his right to a jury trial, was found guilty on November 20 of all 10 charges against him, including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
The motion alleges unspecified “errors of law” that necessitate a retrial. While the defense did not provide further details, they indicated their intention to expand the motion following a comprehensive review of the trial’s facts and circumstances.
Under Georgia law, defendants have 30 days to appeal a conviction after sentencing or the denial of a motion for a new trial. Filing the motion effectively extends the window for appeal, potentially giving Ibarra’s legal team additional time to prepare their case.
Judge Haggard sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without parole following the guilty verdict. The charges stemmed from the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, who