Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan national charged with the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley in February, has opted for a bench trial instead of a jury trial.

Ibarra, 26, is accused of killing Riley, a nursing student, while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus.

Ibarra’s trial will begin on November 15, with Judge Patrick Haggard presiding.

In addition to murder charges, Ibarra faces multiple counts, including kidnapping, assault, and peeping Tom charges, Fox News has reported.

Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, and his case has become a focal point in discussions about illegal immigration.

Written by B.C. Begley