Witness At University Of Virginia Lacrosse Trial Tells Of Brain Injuries
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WJZ) — There was more graphic testimony in the George Huguely murder trial. Jurors heard the medical explanation for Yeardley Love's death Tuesday. The testimony was too much for Love's mother.
Adam May has the very latest.
Both sides spent all day trying to spin the medical evidence in their favor. As jurors paid close attention, WJZ had a short, casual conversation with Love's mother. She was very polite and gracious, but was forced to relive this awful tragedy.
Yeardley Love's mother Sharon left the courtroom during graphic testimony about her daughter's death. Speaking briefly only with WJZ, she expressed gratitude to all the people supporting her back in Baltimore.
Two neurological pathologists spent hours telling jurors about the fatal injuries to Love's brain. Using a plastic skull and brain, they explained how blunt force trauma killed the University of Virginia lacrosse star from Cockeysville.
Scott Goodman is a prominent local attorney.
"It's by far, by far the most sensational case in Charlottesville," Goodman said.
Love's ex-boyfriend, George Huguely -- from Chevy Chase -- faces life in prison if he's convicted of first-degree murder. For that, prosecutors need to prove premeditation, so they've introduced a threatening email sent two days before the beating, testimony from another lacrosse player who had an affair with Love then saw Huguely choking Love in a jealous rage and Love's bedroom door, allegedly kicked in by Huguely the night of their confrontation.
"Hours later, she's dead and no, there's no evidence anyone else was in the room, so yes, the email that he said he was gonna do that and it happened, very strong, powerful evidence," Goodman said.
But Goodman says Virginia's laws regarding premeditation are tough. It's why defense attorneys keep reminding jurors Huguely was drunk, a strategy that has resulted in lesser convictions in other cases.
"This is the classic heat of passion manslaughter killing that is injected with rage and being mad and angry in the course of a relationship which often rests in a manslaughter conviction," Goodman said.
Defense attorneys have been trying to argue Love's brain injuries could have been caused by CPR but both doctors on the stand Tuesday testified it was not possible.
