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A jury late Wednesday recommended a prison sentence of 26 years for former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely, convicted of second-degree murder and grand larceny in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love.
The judge has the option of accepting that sentence or imposing a lesser one. The recommendation is 25 years on the murder count and one year for grand larceny.
Sentencing has been scheduled for April 16.
Huguely was found not guilty on the most serious charge -- first-degree murder -- in the May 2010 death of Love, 22. He was acquitted on several other charges, including robbery and breaking and entering to commit larceny.
Huguely, 24, showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict in the guilt phase. He kept his head down when the sentence was announced. When the jurors entered the jury box, none of them looked at him.
Several Huguely family members were clearly upset in the courtroom.
The sentencing range for a second-degree murder conviction is between five and 40 years.
Authorities alleged that a jealous Huguely caused fatal injuries during a fight with Love, also a lacrosse player at the university. The incident occurred at her Charlottesville apartment.
The defense argued Love's death was an accident -- a contention not accepted by jurors, who found that Huguely acted with malice.
A first-degree murder guilty verdict would have required them to find that Huguely's actions also were willful, deliberate and premeditated, according to Virginia law.
Jurors had the option, besides acquittal, of finding Huguely guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in Love's death. They deliberated about nine hours Wednesday before convicting Huguely.
Love's mother and sister released a statement late Wednesday.
"Time has not made us miss Yeardley any less. In fact quite the opposite," their statement read. "It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize that she is no longer here. Yeardley's contagious smile, kind spirit and gentle touch have left this world, but we know that heaven has an angel like no other."
In their closing statements in the sentencing phase, the prosecution said a letter by Huguely to Love, found after her death, blamed his problems on alcohol use.
Huguely was convicted of grand larceny in the theft of a computer belonging to Love.
A defense attorney told jurors during closing arguments Saturday in Charlottesville that Huguely contributed to Love's death, but did not kill her and had no intent to do so.
"Yes, George contributed to her death. But no, he didn't kill her ... he left there with her alive, and that is not in dispute. There was no intentional killing, because she wasn't dead when he left," defense attorney Francis Lawrence said. "There's no intent to rob and no intent to kill."
Lawrence described his client as "stupid, drunk -- but not calculating."
Police were initially called to Love's off-campus Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported "a possible alcohol overdose," Police Chief Tim Longo said at the time.
A medical examiner later ruled that Love died of blunt force trauma, and authorities allege that Huguely caused it.
"When somebody's little girl doesn't wake up the next day, and there's no reason why they shouldn't ... I ask you to do no more, and no less, than to hold him responsible for what he did," said Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Warner D. Chapman.
"It goes without saying that this woman is never going to be able to say what happened to her ... but the evidence proves she was killed in the commission of a robbery," he told the jury.
The prosecutor also told jurors that Love's death was slow and painful, claiming she could have remained alive for a couple of hours after Huguely left her apartment. The defense agrees Love was alive when Huguely left.
Charlottesville Police Detective Lisa Reeves wrote in a sworn statement used to obtain a search warrant in the case that "Huguely admitted on May 3, 2010, that he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and, during the course of the altercation, he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall."
The defense attorney had said there is no evidence that Love's head hit a wall, and on Saturday the defense called a neurosurgeon who questioned the nature of Love's injuries.
Prosecutors have claimed all along that Huguely followed through on his intentions to kill Love.
Earlier in the trial, Chapman read e-mails between the two after Huguely heard Love had allegedly slept with someone else.
The defendant wrote, "I should have killed you," and Love responded, "You should have killed me?" according to Chapman.
Huguely responded that the pair should talk, Chapman said.
Source: CNN
The judge has the option of accepting that sentence or imposing a lesser one. The recommendation is 25 years on the murder count and one year for grand larceny.
Sentencing has been scheduled for April 16.
Huguely was found not guilty on the most serious charge -- first-degree murder -- in the May 2010 death of Love, 22. He was acquitted on several other charges, including robbery and breaking and entering to commit larceny.
Huguely, 24, showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict in the guilt phase. He kept his head down when the sentence was announced. When the jurors entered the jury box, none of them looked at him.
Several Huguely family members were clearly upset in the courtroom.
The sentencing range for a second-degree murder conviction is between five and 40 years.
Authorities alleged that a jealous Huguely caused fatal injuries during a fight with Love, also a lacrosse player at the university. The incident occurred at her Charlottesville apartment.
The defense argued Love's death was an accident -- a contention not accepted by jurors, who found that Huguely acted with malice.
A first-degree murder guilty verdict would have required them to find that Huguely's actions also were willful, deliberate and premeditated, according to Virginia law.
Jurors had the option, besides acquittal, of finding Huguely guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in Love's death. They deliberated about nine hours Wednesday before convicting Huguely.
Love's mother and sister released a statement late Wednesday.
"Time has not made us miss Yeardley any less. In fact quite the opposite," their statement read. "It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize that she is no longer here. Yeardley's contagious smile, kind spirit and gentle touch have left this world, but we know that heaven has an angel like no other."
In their closing statements in the sentencing phase, the prosecution said a letter by Huguely to Love, found after her death, blamed his problems on alcohol use.
Huguely was convicted of grand larceny in the theft of a computer belonging to Love.
A defense attorney told jurors during closing arguments Saturday in Charlottesville that Huguely contributed to Love's death, but did not kill her and had no intent to do so.
"Yes, George contributed to her death. But no, he didn't kill her ... he left there with her alive, and that is not in dispute. There was no intentional killing, because she wasn't dead when he left," defense attorney Francis Lawrence said. "There's no intent to rob and no intent to kill."
Lawrence described his client as "stupid, drunk -- but not calculating."
Police were initially called to Love's off-campus Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported "a possible alcohol overdose," Police Chief Tim Longo said at the time.
A medical examiner later ruled that Love died of blunt force trauma, and authorities allege that Huguely caused it.
"When somebody's little girl doesn't wake up the next day, and there's no reason why they shouldn't ... I ask you to do no more, and no less, than to hold him responsible for what he did," said Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Warner D. Chapman.
"It goes without saying that this woman is never going to be able to say what happened to her ... but the evidence proves she was killed in the commission of a robbery," he told the jury.
The prosecutor also told jurors that Love's death was slow and painful, claiming she could have remained alive for a couple of hours after Huguely left her apartment. The defense agrees Love was alive when Huguely left.
Charlottesville Police Detective Lisa Reeves wrote in a sworn statement used to obtain a search warrant in the case that "Huguely admitted on May 3, 2010, that he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and, during the course of the altercation, he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall."
The defense attorney had said there is no evidence that Love's head hit a wall, and on Saturday the defense called a neurosurgeon who questioned the nature of Love's injuries.
Prosecutors have claimed all along that Huguely followed through on his intentions to kill Love.
Earlier in the trial, Chapman read e-mails between the two after Huguely heard Love had allegedly slept with someone else.
The defendant wrote, "I should have killed you," and Love responded, "You should have killed me?" according to Chapman.
Huguely responded that the pair should talk, Chapman said.
Source: CNN