Defense: Huguely Was Drunk When Yeardley Love Died
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WJZ) -- George Huguely is facing life in prison if he's convicted of killing Cockeysville native Yeardley Love, but new legal arguments show a possible defense in the case.
Mike Hellgren explains how Huguely could avoid a severe sentence.
Huguely's drinking could save him time behind bars for the murder of girlfriend Yeardley Love. During an unusually long and detailed preliminary hearing---that lasted nine hours with 20 witnesses---Huguely's lacrosse teammates described him as "very drunk" and that he had "slurred speech" in the hours leading up to his altercation with Love.
Law professor Byron Warnken says the level of drunkenness is a defense.
"I think it gave the defense the opportunity to show there are two sides to every story. This guy was intoxicated; he wasn't trying to kill her," Warnken said.
One of the main strategies for the defense is that Huguely didn't intend to kill Love.
"George Huguely only learned that Yeardley Love had died when he was told that by a detective," said defense attorney Rhonda Quagliana.
In testimony, the detective said, "You killed her, George. You killed her." In disbelief, Huguely replied, "I never did anything that could do that to her."
"It seems like there are defenses---not to culpability, but as to the degree of the crime, first-degree, second-degree, manslaughter," Warnken said.
The on-again, off-again boyfriend and girlfriend---both are from Maryland and attended the University of Virginia---had been fighting over their relationship.
Love grew up in Cockeysville. Her family issued a statement saying they have faith in the justice system.
Several left court after hearing grisly details of her death. Huguely told police he "shook [Love] and her head repeatedly hit the wall." Love's roommate discovered her body "face down [in] a pool of blood."
Huguely's defense argued it could have been something else, like a fall or Adderall found in Love's system, that actually killed her.
"My guess is you're probably not going to persuade the jury to find not guilty, so if you're on the defense side, you want to do whatever you can to lower the level of risk," Warnken said.
The case will head to a grand jury next week and then to trial, unless both sides negotiate a plea deal, avoiding a very public, very painful courtroom showdown.
Huguely faces six felony charges, ranging from first-degree murder to robbery.
