In the nine months since Laken Riley was killed while jogging at the University of Georgia, her death turned into a lightning rod over crime and illegal immigration and cast an ominous shadow over the college town of Athens.

The trial of the man accused of killing 22-year-old Laken Riley began in Athens, Ga., with prosecutors outlining how they think the suspect killed the nursing student who was out for a run. The defense argued that the evidence is circumstantial and complained about how the case has become political.

Jose Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally​, is charged with murder in the February killing, which helped fan the immigration debate during this year's presidential campaign.