On the very first day with the bench trial, prosecutors claimed that suspect Jose Ibarra, 26 — an unlawful migrant connected to the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua jail gang — smashed Riley’s head in and asphyxiated her when she resisted his sexual attack.

Protection attorneys identified as a police officer, a jogger and among Ibarra’s neighbors on Tuesday and rested their scenario Wednesday morning.

Before announcing his verdict, Haggard told the courtroom that he wrote down two statements within the Lawyers throughout closing arguments.

"The lack of my best friend has shattered my earth in techniques I never ever thought doable," she stated by means of tears.

Criminal offense has flourished because of flawed pondering, misguided Strategies about justice, as well as a misunderstanding of human nature. We've permitted principles unrelated to reality to take priority around issues We all know to be accurate.

"The evidence in this case has been overwhelming, as well as proof In this instance has spoken loud and distinct -- that he is Laken Riley's killer, Which he killed her mainly because she would not let him rape her," Ross mentioned for the duration of her closing argument on Wednesday.

Asphyxiation and blunt-power trauma ended up ultimately the cause of Riley's Dying, with Ibarra "very seriously disfiguring her head by putting her head many instances using a rock."

She extra that "[i]t could be very easy to shed our faith in mankind for that reason senseless and avoidable tragedy," but claimed her loved ones has received an amazing "level of enjoy, support and aid" all through what she referred to as a "horrific nightmare."

In complete, nine witnesses have been named by the prosecution such as a slew of legislation enforcement brokers who were being involved in the investigation. Demo will decide on back up all over again Monday early morning.

Her mom's spouse and children can be establishing a scholarship fund and also a Basis to raise consciousness of homicides and security for youthful Females.

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She normally talked to her mom on the cellular phone when out jogging from the mornings, so when Riley's family and friends did not hear from her, they concerned some thing was wrong. 

Though he and her mother divorced when Riley was young, he and his daughter remained shut, calling one another typically, he stated. She spoke about wishing to graduate from Augusta College's nursing faculty and get the job done in a children's hospital.