\
BODYCAM footage shows the moment police officers wake up Laken Riley’s accused killer from his sleep and press him about the nursing student’s murder.
The video showed a groggy Jose Ibarra forced out of his bed on the morning of February 22 when University of Georgia police arrived at his Athens apartment to question him about Riley’s brutal murder.
6
6
6
6
“Hello, hello, hello, police, hands,” one officer is heard shouting at Ibarra in broken Spanish as the suspected killer was lying in bed with a blanket over him.
As Ibarra, who was dressed in a red T-shirt, red and black athletic shorts, and black slippers, slowly rolled out of bed, police forced him outside and grilled him about Riley’s killing.
University of Georiga Corporal Rafael Sayan, who is bilingual in Spanish, testified in court on Monday on how he questioned Ibarra, 26, about the scratches and marks that were on his body.
Sayan said officers found at least four people inside the Athens apartment, all of which were Ibarra’s roommates.
Read more in The U.S. Sun
When asked what the four individuals were doing as police questioned Ibarra, Sayan described how the group was “laughing.”
“They were speaking to one another, laughing,” Sayan testified.
The officer details how the atmosphere among the group was very “relaxed.”
“There was a lot of laughing giggling, especially when talking about how they were woken up, pulled out of the apartment, smoking.
“I would say the vibe, or the atmosphere, was very relaxed and calm.”
Sayan testified how officers noticed fresh scratches on Ibarra, including his wrist, right bicep, and the back of his neck.
When asked why his knuckles were red, Ibarra said it was because of the cold.
However, Ibarra failed to explain the numerous scratches on his arms thoroughly, Sayan told the courtroom.
University of Georgia Sergeant Joshua Epps also testified how officers first questioned Ibarra’s brother, Diego, outside the apartment.
However, Epps confirmed police did not see any fresh injuries or scratches on Diego.
[Jose Ibarra] went hunting for females on the University of Georgia campus.
Prosecutor Sheila Ross
The prosecution rested their case in the Ibarra’s bench trial on Tuesday.
Ibarra declined to testify in his murder trial when asked by Judge Patrick Haggard, “Mr. Ibarra, do you want to testify?”
The defendant, who worked with a translator, said, “No,” as he shook his head.
During opening statements, prosecutor Sheila Ross said Ibarra went “hunting for females” on the morning of February 22 when Riley, 22, was found dead in a wooded area just off the trail near the University of Georgia’s Intramural fields.
6
6
Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was out on a jog when she was allegedly attacked by Ibarra.
Ibarra attempted to sexually assault Riley, but the nursing student fought off her attacker before he crushed her skull with a rock, prospectors said.
“When Laken Riley refused to be his rape victim, he bashed her head in with a rock repeatedly,” Ross said.
After the vicious assault, Ibarra allegedly dragged Riley’s body to a secluded area and covered it with leaves to hide her remains.
“The evidence will show that Laken fought. She fought for her life, she fought for her dignity, and in that fight, she caused this defendant to leave forensic evidence behind,” Ross said during opening statements.
“She also marked her killer for the entire world to see.”
Prosecutors said Riley clawed at Ibarra, leaving his DNA under her nails.
Ashley Hinkle, a forensic DNA expert, testified on Monday that fingernail clippings on Riley’s right hand were linked to the genetic profile of Ibarra.
“These [Laken Riley’s] were shorter nails, so it wasn’t like they were long nails that you can just accidentally have contact with,” Hinkle testified.
Riley died from blunt-force head trauma and asphyxia, a medical examiner testified during the trial.
Ibarra is facing charges of malice murder, two counts of kidnapping with bodily injury, and two counts of aggravated assault with intent to rape.
He is facing life in prison if convicted.
