Category: Ruling

Illegal Migrant Jose Ibarra Found Guilty Of All Charges In Murder Of Laken Riley, Judge Rules

Supporters of former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump hold images of Laken Riley before he speaks at a "Get Out the Vote" rally in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. Riley, a nursing student, has become the face of immigration reform after her murder allegedly by an illegal immigrant on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump hold images of Laken Riley before he speaks at a “Get Out the Vote” rally in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
8:55 AM – Wednesday, November 20, 2024

A judge found illegal migrant Jose Ibarra guilty on Wednesday of murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, while she was running on the University of Georgia campus on February 22nd. 

The 26-year-old Ibarra was found guilty of murder by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard and other charges that relate to Riley’s death. Ibarra had waived his right to a jury trial, which meant that it was ultimately up to Haggard to decide his fate. 

The trial began Friday, and prosecutors called over a dozen law enforcement officers, Riley’s roommates and a woman who lived in the same apartment as Ibarra. Defense attorneys called a police officer, a jogger and one of Ibarra’s neighbors on Tuesday and rested their case Wednesday morning.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross told the judge that Ibarra encountered Riley while she was out running on the University of Georgia campus on February 22nd and killed her during a struggle. 

Defense attorney Dustin Kirby stated that Riley’s death was a tragedy and that the evidence was graphic and disturbing in the case. However, he said there was not sufficient evidence to prove that Ibarra killed Riley.

He now faces life behind bars as the sentencing is set for 12:30 pm ET on Wednesday. 

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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The Unbelievable Supreme Court Ruling That Allows Police to Seize Your Car for Over a Year

In a shocking 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to property rights, ruling that police are not required to hold prompt hearings when seizing cars and other assets, even from innocent owners. The case, involving two Alabama women whose cars were taken in drug-related incidents, highlights the glaring injustices within the civil forfeiture system. Despite the property belonging to individuals not accused of any wrongdoing, the owners were forced to wait over a year for the return of their vehicles. The ruling leaves countless Americans vulnerable to abuse, as law enforcement agencies can now seize and hold property indefinitely without any initial judicial oversight. In a scathing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned of the potential for abuse, as police departments often have a financial incentive to retain seized assets. The decision has sparked outrage among civil liberties advocates, who argue that it undermines due process and property rights enshrined in the Constitution. As the practice of civil forfeiture continues to grow, the need for legal reform and increased protections for innocent property owners has never been more urgent. The Supreme Court ruling serves as a wake-up call for all Americans concerned about the erosion of their fundamental rights.