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From Fox News: Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan illegal immigrant charged in Laken Riley’s February murder, is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a hearing to argue that certain evidence, including cellphone data and DNA, should not be allowed in his trial.
Ibarra’s defense previously filed motions to suppress evidence from cellphones, which his attorneys say was obtained illegally by law enforcement, and testimony from a witness who performed DNA testing during Riley’s autopsy, alleging that the results “did not exclude Defendant, but also did not exclude another known individual associated with the case.”
The hearing will take place about two weeks before Ibarra’s trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 18 in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia.
Ibarra, 26, is accused of attacking and killing Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, while she was out for a run along dirt trails on the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens on the morning of Feb. 22.
Prosecutors have charged Ibarra with malice murder, two counts of kidnapping with bodily injury, two counts of aggravated assault with intent to rape, two counts of aggravated battery, obstructing or hindering a person from making a 911 call, and tampering with evidence.
In the same indictment, Ibarra has also been charged for a “peeping Tom” incident that occurred on February 22, in which he “peeped through” a window and “spied upon” a university staff member at a residence on UGA’s campus.
The report explains that Ibarra attempted to get the “peeping Tom” charge thrown out, but prosecutors argue that the incident is intertwined with Laken’s murder, as they both happened on the same day.
In the court document, prosecutors say Ibarra “went to one apartment complex, failed to enter the woman’s apartment, and then went to a nearby wooded area where students are often found jogging or exercising,” and that’s where he attacked and killed Laken.
The hearing Friday morning is currently underway:
#Breaking New: Newly released documents show that Laken Riley attempted to call police during her attack. Police are refusing to release the recording of the call. No authorities traced the call to find her.
Police didn’t begin looking until after a friend reported her… pic.twitter.com/iarZQLo8hh
— 🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸 (@Travis_4_Trump) February 28, 2024
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