Laken Riley murder: Man accused of killing US nursing student sentenced to life in prison without parole

A Venezuelan man convicted of killing a nursing student in the US state of Georgia was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday (Nov 20) without the possibility of parole, American media reported.

Twenty-two-year-old Laken Riley was murdered on February 22 while she was on a jog at the University of Georgia campus. Riley was a studentat Augusta University College of Nursing, which also has a campus in Athens. The accused was identified as 26-year-old Jose Ibarra.

The case again renewed the debate over immigration whenfederal authorities said that Ibarra illegally entered the USin 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case.

Ibarra charged with Riley's murder

A report by the news agency Associated Press early Thursday (Nov 21) said that Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley's death.

Wednesday’s verdict was reached by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge HPatrick Haggard. The report said that Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, meaning Judge Haggard alone heard and decided the case.

Haggard found Ibarra guilty of all 10 counts against him- one count of malice murder; three counts of felony murder; and one count each of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing an emergency call, evidence tampering and being a peeping Tom.

Prosecutor asks judge for Maximum sentence

As the verdict was being announced on Wednesday, Defence Attorney John Donnelly asked Haggard to give Ibarra two consecutive life sentences but to allow him the eventual possibility of parole, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Sheila Ross asked the judge for the maximum sentence, saying Riley'sfamily should never have to worry about Ibarra being released.

“You can’t bring her back and it’s horrible. What you can do is give comfort with your sentence,” Ross said.

Haggard ultimately gave Ibarra the maximum sentence he could impose, including life in prison without the possibility of parole on the malice murder count.

'I cannot walk around my own college campus'

Reacting to the verdict, Riley's mother Allyson Phillips said that there was no end to the pain, suffering, and loss that the family experienced and would continue to endure.

Riley’s younger sister, Lauren Phillips, a freshman at the University of Georgia, talked about the pain of living without her “favourite person” and “biggest role model.”

“I cannot walk around my own college campus because I’m terrified of people like Jose Ibarra,” Lauren said.

(With inputs from agencies)