Warning Issued Before Graphic Body Cam Footage Shown in Laken Riley’s Murder Trial
During the murder trial of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, the judge in the case, H. Patrick Haggard, issued a warning to the courtroom regarding the graphic body cam footage that was about to be presented. The judge’s warning prompted several individuals to leave the courtroom, while family members covered their eyes in anticipation of the disturbing content.
As prosecutor Sheila Ross was preparing to play the video taken at the scene where the 22-year-old jogger’s body was discovered, Judge Haggard intervened. He suspected that the footage would show the victim’s body and offered anyone present the opportunity to step out before it was shown, acknowledging that the evidence would be difficult to watch.
Despite the warning, some individuals chose to remain in the courtroom as the footage played, with Ross cautioning them against speaking out during the presentation.
During the emotional trial, Riley’s mother and other supporters left the courtroom, and Riley’s stepfather covered his eyes at times during the video. The footage depicted Sgt. Kenneth Maxwell of the University of Georgia Police Department discovering Riley’s lifeless body after a search near the university campus in Athens, Ga.
Riley, who prosecutors allege was beaten and asphyxiated by illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, was found 50 feet off the trail with her torso exposed and shirt pulled up, as testified by Maxwell.
In the video, Maxwell can be heard urgently calling for emergency medical services and attempting CPR to revive Riley, but ultimately was unable to detect a pulse. He noted signs of blunt force trauma to the head.
