Testimony Focuses On Cause Of Death, Relationship Between Huguely & Love
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WJZ)— A pattern of violence. Witnesses on the stand describe an explosive relationship between two lacrosse players from Maryland before one of them wound up dead.
Adam May has new testimony from Charlottesville, Va.
The focus of Thursday's testimony was the condition of Yeardley Love's body, the position of it, where it was found and efforts to try and save her life. Also, affairs, jealousy and violence were discussed. There's been scandalous testimony in the George Huguely murder trial.
Some of this testimony is really tough for the Love family to hear, including details about how the body was found and the condition of the body. Defense attorneys are using it to lay groundwork for their own theory.
Prosecutors in the murder case against George Huguely called medical experts and investigators to bolster their claim Yeardley Love was beaten to death.
But defense attorneys went into great detail picking apart the testimony, trying to convince jurors they believe the Cockeysville native -- who was intoxicated -- died after a mutual fight, passed out from drinking, and suffocated in her pillow.
The University of Virginia lacrosse players had an off and on relationship. Witnesses described it as unfaithful and argumentative.
University of North Carolina lacrosse player Mike Burns took the stand admitting he had a sexual affair with Love. When Huguely found out, he heard Love scream, "Help me, help me!" He saw Huguely putting Love in a choke hold, broke it up and she was crying hysterically and said, "Thank you so much."
Prosecutors also say Huguely wrote Love an email that said, "When I found out about Mike Burns, I should have killed you."
Investigators found that email on Love's computer, recovered in a dumpster. It was put there by Huguely.
Other friends of couple who took the stand testified they had growing concerns about Huguely's drinking and they were planning an intervention.
Thursday's testimony included statements from a first responder who said Love's body was still room temperature when he arrived two hours after Huguely left. The implication that Love may have had a chance to survive brought Love's mother and sister to tears in court.
Also on the witness stand was a former lacrosse teammate of Huguely's who testified he saw Huguely choking Love months before her death.
