{"id":2578226,"date":"2026-03-10T14:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T18:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-rejects-new-trial-request-for-convicted-laken-riley-killer\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:25:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T18:25:06","slug":"judge-rejects-new-trial-request-for-convicted-laken-riley-killer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-rejects-new-trial-request-for-convicted-laken-riley-killer\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge rejects new trial request for convicted Laken Riley killer"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-rejects-new-trial-request-for-convicted-laken-riley-killer%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2578226&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Georgia judge denied Jose Ibarra\u2019s bid for a new trial in the murder of Laken Riley. Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard sentenced Ibarra, 26, to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2024 after he was convicted on 10 counts, including malice murder and felony murder, for killing the 22-year-old nursing student near her Athens, Georgia campus. Ibarra, an illegal immigrant and Venezuelan national, had waived a jury trial, wiht the judge delivering the verdict.<\/p>\n<p>Defense lawyers had argued two pretrial motions-one to delay the trial to allow more time for a DNA expert to review the evidence and another asserting constitutional rights violations-should have barred the trial from proceeding without a delay. The judge rejected these claims, stating the defense would not be harmed by moving forward and that the evidence against Ibarra was overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>Riley\u2019s death drew national attention in the immigration debate, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >case occurred alongside political moves<\/a>, including a law signed by former President Donald Trump aimed at arresting and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-ilhan-omar-calls-for-citizenship-for-all-undocumented-people\/\" title=\"Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls For Citizenship For \u2018All Undocumented People\u2019\">detaining illegal immigrants<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/january-6-committee-releases-social-security-numbers-of-top-trump-officials-republican-governors\/\" title=\"January 6 Committee Releases Social Security Numbers Of Top Trump Officials, Republican Governors\">theft-related crimes<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge rejects new trial request for illegal immigrant convicted of killing Laken Riley<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2525042\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"164\">Georgia<\/a> judge rejected the request for a new trial made by defense lawyers representing Jose Ibarra, who was convicted of killing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/laken-riley\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11100\">Laken Riley<\/a> over two years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard sentenced Ibarra, 26, to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2024 for murdering the 22-year-old nursing student near her college campus in Athens, Georgia. The illegal immigrant and Venezuelan national was convicted on all 10 counts, including malice murder and felony murder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4486602\/dc-bar-targets-ed-martin-doj-bid-oversight-attorney-discipline\/\">DC Bar targets Ed Martin amid DOJ bid for oversight of attorney discipline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4486045\/fbi-subpoena-arizona-voting-records-2020-audit\/\">FBI subpoenas Arizona county voting records related to notorious 2020 audit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4485964\/trump-leadership-new-jersey-us-attorney-office\/\">Judge disqualifies Trump-appointed leadership in New Jersey US attorney&rsquo;s office<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Riley&rsquo;s death was widely reported throughout the 2024 election cycle as her murder became a focal point in the national <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/immigration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8775\">immigration<\/a> debate over whether the southern border should be closed.<\/p>\n<p>After returning to office last year, President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> signed the Laken Riley Act into law to arrest and detain <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1972\">illegal immigrants<\/a> for theft-related crimes, as Ibarra once was before he killed Riley.<\/p>\n<p>Since his latest imprisonment, Ibarra&rsquo;s attorneys have tried getting their client a new trial. Their effort was ultimately in vain.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Haggard upheld the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/facing-threat-of-sanctions-hunter-bidens-lawyers-argue-they-never-tried-to-mislead-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Facing threat of sanctions, Hunter ...en\u2019s lawyers argue they \u2018never tried to mislead\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">criminal defendant&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s sentence in a Monday order, asserting that the evidence presented by Georgia prosecutors was &ldquo;overwhelming and powerful.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4486302\/zohran-mamdani-ramadan-mahmoud-khalil\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4486302\/zohran-mamdani-ramadan-mahmoud-khalil\/\">MAMDANI CELEBRATES RAMADAN WITH MAHMOUD KHALIL ONE YEAR AFTER HIS DETENTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ibarra&rsquo;s lawyers argued in a late January hearing that the judge declined two defense motions before trial, thereby violating Ibarra&rsquo;s constitutional rights. One request was to delay the trial to give a DNA expert enough time to review and analyze the evidence. The judge found Ibarra would not be harmed if the trial proceeded without a delay.<\/p>\n<p>By issuing the new ruling, Haggard stood by his verdict. He was the one who handed down the verdict after Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a paraphrase of the article:<\/p>\n<p>A Georgia judge, H. Patrick Haggard of the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, denied defense motions seeking a new trial for Jose Ibarra, who was convicted more than two years ago of killing Laken Riley. Ibarra, 26, was sentenced in November 2024 to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty on 10 counts, including malice murder and felony murder, for killing the 22-year-old nursing student near her campus in Athens. The defense had argued that the judge violated Ibarra\u2019s constitutional rights by not delaying the trial to allow a DNA expert more time to review evidence, but Haggard ruled that the trial could proceed as scheduled and that the prosecutors\u2019 case was overwhelming. The ruling comes amid ongoing attention to Riley\u2019s death during the 2024 election cycle and the broader immigration debate. The article also notes that after taking office again, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, aimed at arresting and detaining illegal immigrants for theft-related crimes, a detail tied to Ibarra\u2019s status as an undocumented immigrant. The defense\u2019s bid for a new trial was rejected, and the judge\u2019s original verdict and sentence were upheld.<\/p>\n<p>55-character headline option:<br \/>\nJudge denies new trial for Jose Ibarra in Laken Riley case<\/p>\n<p>Would you like another headline variant or a shorter\/longer paraphrase?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2578227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26069525442234.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[65195,61972,33740,33010,42983],"class_list":["post-2578226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeal-denied","tag-convicted-killer","tag-court-ruling","tag-criminal-justice","tag-laken-riley"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26069525442234.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578226"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578230,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578226\/revisions\/2578230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}