Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, has waived his right to a jury trial in the case of the February murder of Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, on the University of Georgia campus. Ibarra's trial will proceed as a bench trial under Judge H. Patrick Haggard, starting Friday, facing a 10-count indictment, including charges of malice and felony murder. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole, and the case has become a focal point in the national immigration debate as Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. His status has been leveraged politically by figures such as President-elect Donald Trump. The defense and prosecution have been preparing for trial amid discussions of venue changes and evidence admissibility, with DNA and cell phone evidence being allowed. Riley's killing was described as a random attack, fueling further discourse on immigration policies and border security.