Illegal immigrant sentenced to life in prison for Laken Riley’s murder highlighted by Donald Trump campaign

A Venezuelan immigrant has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of nursing student Laken Riley, whose murder was at the center of President-elect Donald Trump’s election campaign.

Jose Ibarra, who entered the United States illegally, was found guilty of murder and other charges by Judge Patrick Haggard in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court.

Prosecutors said Ibarra encountered Ms Riley, then 22, on a wooded path near the University of Georgia while she was jogging on February 22 this year and killed her when she resisted his efforts to rape her.

She was studying nursing at Augusta University in Athens, Georgia.

As Judge Haggard read the verdict aloud, Ibarra sat with a blank face as Ms. Riley’s family and friends wept.

The judge heard the evidence and issued the verdict after Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial.

In victim impact statements made in court before sentencing, Ms Riley was described as a caring, selfless and religious person who loved running and was dedicated to serving others.

“Laken had a beautiful, bright future,” his mother Allyson Phillips told the court.

“He was smart, hard-working, kind, thoughtful, and most importantly, he was a child of God.”

Evidence against Ibarra included DNA linked to the defendant found under Ms. Riley’s fingernails, scratches seen on her body the day after her death, and video footage of a man matching her description throwing a bloody jacket into a trash bin moments after the murder.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross said in her closing statement that the evidence was “overwhelming.”

Call from Republicans to secure the border

Trump and other Republicans have frequently cited Ms. Riley’s killing to support false claims that undocumented immigrants are responsible for a wave of violent crime.

The president-elect ran on a platform of tougher border policies and aggressive deportations.

“JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY! The Outlaw who murdered our beloved Laken Riley was found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes.” Trump wrote on his social media site: Real Social.

“It’s time to secure our border and remove these criminals and bandits from our Country so nothing like this happens again!”

Ms. Riley’s case made national headlines in March when firebrand congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene interrupted President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to demand that he “say her name.”

Mr. Biden went off script to mention Ms. Riley, whom he described as an innocent woman killed by an “illegal” person.

Republicans criticized Biden for mispronouncing his name, and the president later apologized for using the word “illegal” to refer to a person.

Loading…

She withdrew from the presidential race in July and was replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the election to Trump earlier this month.

Trump vowed to continue mass deportations of immigrants after taking office in January.

‘His death is being exploited’

Earlier this year, Ms Riley’s father criticized the politicization of his daughters’ murder in the immigration debate.

“This is inciting people who are going to vote in November, and I think it’s being used politically to get those votes.” Jason Riley told NBC News In March.

“This makes me angry. He should be raised to be the person he is.”

When invited by Republican congressman Mike Collins to accompany him to Mr. Biden’s State of the Union address, Ms. Riley’s parents refused to attend.

His mother and stepfather met with Trump days later.

Ms. Riley’s murder was one of a handful of cases that Republicans highlighted on the campaign trail.

In September, the grieving parents of an Ohio boy killed when a Haitian immigrant driver crashed into his school bus asked Trump and other politicians to stop mentioning their son’s name.

“They can spew all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis, and even false claims that furry pets are being destroyed and eaten by community members,” Nathan Clark said at a Springfield City Council hearing. he said.

“But they are not allowed nor are they allowed to mention Aiden Clark of Springfield, Ohio.

“I will listen to them one more time to hear their apology.”

Democrats mostly criticized the politicization of Ms. Riley’s murder.

In March, Republicans in the House of Representatives, with support from Democrats, passed the Laken Riley Act, which would require the arrest of any immigrant who steals or steals.

Democratic New York congressman Jerry Nadler, who voted against the resolution, accused Republicans of “exploiting his death for a partisan spectacle” and “putting together legislation to target immigrants in an election year.”

Inside A post to XDemocratic congresswoman Veronica Escobar said Republicans were exploiting the tragedy for “dangerous political games.”

The Laken Riley Act was introduced in the Senate on March 12, but has since stalled.

ABC/Reuters