George Huguely Murder Trial Timeline: Former College Lacrosse Player On Trial In Death Of Yeardley Love
Timeline In Virginia Lacrosse Murder Case
George Huguely, 24, is accused of breaking into his girlfriend's bedroom in May 2010, beating her to death, and walking off with her computer. He and Yeardley Love both played on the University of Virginia lacrosse teams, and were just weeks away from graduation.
Huguely faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder in the commission of a robbery. The jury can also consider second degree murder (five to 40 years) or involuntary manslaughter (one to 10 years), among other charges.
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The prosecution argues that Huguely killed his on-again, off-again girlfriend in a jealous fit. The defense admits that the former college student's actions contributed to Love's death, but that he never intended to kill her.
The following is a timeline of events in the case.
November 2008 George Huguely is arrested for public drunkenness in Lexington, Va. He scuffled with the arresting officer and shouted obscenities at her, leading the cop to use a stun gun on him.
February 2009 Huguely punched a sleeping teammate in the face after being told that the fellow lacrosse player had kissed Yeardley Love, 22, his girlfriend at the time.
May 2, 2010 Huguely, 22, is described as being inebriated for much of the day, including the morning when he showed up for a father-son golf outing with other members of the lacrosse team.
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May 3, 2010 Love's body is found by her roommate around 2 a.m. Her roommate tells the 911 dispatcher that Love possibly died from alcohol poisoning, but police find signs of a struggle.
Hour laters, Charlottesville police interview Huguely, who lived next door. In a one-hour recorded conversation, Huguely admits that he and Love "wrestled" in her apartment, but denies that he could have killed her. An officer said he immediately considered Huguely because his knuckles were bruised and he had a cut on his arm.
May 4, 2010 Huguely is charged with first-degree murder. His lawyer Fran Lawrence says Love's death was accidental.
May 7, 2010 Love's friends tell police that the couple had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship. Friends say the two argued in a bar the night before she died.
July 7, 2010 The coroner's officer releases the results of its autopsy, concluding that Love died from a "blunt force trauma."
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Aug. 18, 2010 Court documents released reveal that Love's sorority sisters said they once saw a fight between the couple in which Love hit Huguely with her purse.
The court documents also showed that Huguely took Love's laptop from her room the night she died.
Dec. 15, 2010 The defense begins mounting their attack on the coroner's report by arguing that hemorrhaging could have been caused by EMS workers who performed CPR on Love. They also asked for Love's medical records and raised questions that the presence of the prescription medicine Adderall in her system could have triggered a cardiac arrhythmia.
March 6, 2011 The University of Virginia retires Love's lacrosse number.
April 18, 2011 A grand jury indicts Huguely on six counts, including first-degree murder, robbery and burglary.
Feb. 3, 2012 Judge Edward Hogshire rules that graphic photos of Love's battered body can be shown in court, but will not be visible to the public.
Feb. 6, 2012 The first day of the Huguely murder trial opens with jury selection.
Feb. 15, 2012 The prosecution wraps up its case after calling about 50 witnesses in the first week and a half of the trial. The list included medical experts who said Love died from "blunt force trauma," and a former teammate who said Huguely lied about where he was when Love died.
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Feb. 22, 2012 A jury of seven men and five women convicts Huguely of second-degree murder and suggests a sentence of 26 years.
The defense opened its case with medical experts who said that it was more likely that Love died from suffocation.
Apr. 26, 2012 Sharon Love, Yeardley's mother, sues George Huguely V for more than $30 million in in Charlottesville for the death of her daughter.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE YEARDLEY LOVE AND GEORGE HUGUELY FILE:
George Huguely
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Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
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