Defense paints Iowa murder suspect as hard-working immigrant
by Ryan J. Foley, The Associated Press
Posted May 25, 2021 12:43 pm EDT
Last Updated May 25, 2021 at 12:44 pm EDT
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The man on trial for the 2018 stabbing death of a University of Iowa student is a hard-working, family-centered immigrant from Mexico who was pressured into making a false confession, his defense told jurors Tuesday.
Jennifer Frese, a lawyer for Cristhian Bahena Rivera, said in her opening statement that their hearts should break for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts, but that authorities conducted an incomplete investigation into her death and were too quick to close the case.