Live: Day 3 in trial of Jose Ibarra

(NewsNation) — The trial for Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, could be ending soon.

Prosecutors say they only need half a day more, and the defense says it only plans to call a few witnesses themselves — including Jose Ibarra’s brothers, Diego and Argenis. Diego and Argenis Ibarra, who, like Jose are Venezuelan citizens, have been in federal custody since February on charges they had fake green cards.

The defense was instructed to bring the brothers to Athens, Georgia one full day ahead of schedule.

Tuesday marks the third day of the trial. Over the previous two days, the prosecution has called 19 witnesses. Riley’s roommates, police officers and FBI agents all testified.

On Monday, police showed body camera footage of the moment they first made contact with Jose Ibarra. Police said they noticed scratches and cuts all over his arms. In video footage from the police, Jose Ibarra was not able to explain where those injuries came from.

Prosecutors say these are clear defensive wounds from when Riley was fighting for her life.

A technological analysis of Riley’s watch revealed the exact moment the 22-year-old stopped dead in her tracks before launching an emergency call to police that was abruptly hung up.

An FBI agent said in court Monday that GPS location data from Jose Ibarra’s phone puts him in an identical spot as Riley at the exact moment she died.

Defense attorneys for Jose Ibarra continue to say it’s still possible someone else might be responsible for the crime. The defense team pointed to the fact that Jose Ibarra and his brothers, who lived together in a one-bedroom apartment near the crime scene, shared clothes like hats and jackets that have been seen on surveillance videos.

Jose Ibarra is charged with murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, battery and tampering with evidence. If convicted, faces the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 26-year-old has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Riley was reported missing on Feb. 22 when she didn’t return home from a run. Investigators later discovered her body in a forested area on the University of Georgia campus. UGA police arrested Jose Ibarra the next day.