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Illegal migrant accused of murdering Laken Riley waives jury trial, will be tried by judge

Jose Ibarra’s waiver was approved during a hearing in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court — just one day before jury selection was due to start in the case.

The 26-year-old — who illegally came into the US over the southern border — is accused of killing the 22-year-old in February by hitting her in the head, asphyxiating her and intending to sexually assault her.

The motion came after Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard previously ruled that fingerprints collected from Ibarra’s phone could be used as evidence.

The defense team had requested they be thrown out, claiming they were collected illegally.

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