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Man charged with nursing student Laken Riley's murder on UGA campus demands jury trial

Laken Riley was found dead near the school's intramural fields after leaving her apartment on the morning of Feb. 22 to go for a run.

ATHENS, Ga. — The man accused of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia's campus in late February is demanding a jury trial, according to court documents obtained by 11Alive.

Riley was found dead in a forested area near the school's intramural fields after leaving her apartment on the morning of Feb. 22 to go for a run. Authorities said she died from blunt force trauma to the head.

A day later, police arrested 26-year-old Veneuzeulan native Jose Ibarra on a slew of charges that included malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.

RELATED: Who is Laken Riley? | Nursing student killed while going for a run on UGA's campus

The court documents also show that Ibarra's defense team wants to see any and all physical evidence that might be presented against him in trial. Part of that demand includes copies of "reports, pictures, recordings and witness statements in the possession of the State or its law enforcement agents that may be favorable to the accused in defending against the charges..."

Credit: Photos provided

Records show that Jose Ibarra entered the United States illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case. Ibarra's brother, Diego, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday after he was arrested for having a fake green card, according to officials. He was indicted for one count of possession of counterfeit immigration document.

RELATED: Laken Riley's murder on UGA's campus becoming focal point for politicians discussing immigration policies

In the weeks since Riley's killing, questions over Jose Ibarra's immigration status have become a political flashpoint on border security, as likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the GOP party have used her death to rebuke President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

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