Man indicted in killing of Laken Riley, a Georgia case at the center of national immigration debate

A Georgia antheral has been indicted connected execution charges by a expansive assemblage that said helium intended to rape a nursing pupil whose assemblage was recovered adjacent a moving way connected the University of Georgia campus

ATLANTA -- A Georgia antheral has been indicted connected execution charges by expansive jurors who said helium intended to rape a nursing pupil whose assemblage was recovered adjacent a moving way connected the University of Georgia campus.

It is the archetypal clip specified a motive has been revealed successful the February sidesplitting of Laken Hope Riley, which has go a flashpoint successful the nationalist statement implicit immigration reform. Republicans person utilized the execution lawsuit against Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen, to stoke fears astir migration by claiming that immoderate immigrants would perpetrate convulsive crimes if they are allowed introduction into the U.S.

A Georgia expansive assemblage this week handed down an indictment accusing Ibarra of repeatedly striking Riley successful the caput with a stone and asphyxiating her, and besides pulling up her covering with the volition of raping her.

The 10-count indictment besides accuses Ibarra of hindering Riley's attempts to telephone 911; and of tampering with grounds by concealing a overgarment and gloves.

The sidesplitting stunned students and unit astatine the assemblage aft constabulary said Ibarra did not cognize Riley and took her beingness successful an seemingly random attack. Officers discovered the assemblage of Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University College of Nursing student, connected Feb. 22. That led officers to zero successful connected a adjacent flat complex, wherever they yet apprehended Ibarra, 26, who lived successful the apartments.

“This was a transgression of accidental wherever helium saw an individual, and atrocious things happened,” University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said soon aft the killing.

Within weeks of the killing, Riley became the look of migration betterment for galore conservatives due to the fact that of Ibarra's status. Immigration officials person said Ibarra had unlawfully entered the United States successful 2022 and was allowed to stay.

At the State of the Union address, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted astatine President Joe Biden: “Say her name!” The president past held up a pin with Riley’s sanction connected it and spoke concisely astir the case.

Lawyers for Ibarra did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Wednesday.