CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — George Huguely V’s second-degree murder conviction brought an end to a story of dating violence, alcohol abuse and elite college athletes that captivated Charlottesville and kept the University of Virginia in the spotlight for nearly two years.
But there are few signs that the closure has brought comfort or relief to anyone involved in the case.
“There’s nothing to make good the terrible tragedy done to the Love family,” prosecutor Dave Chapman said after the U.Va. lacrosse player from Chevy Chase was convicted Wednesday night in the May 2010 killing of his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Yeardley Love. “What we do in court is a rough approximation of justice.”
Love was found beaten to death in her apartment after a fight with Huguely, who is now 24.
The passage of time worsened her family’s pain, her mother and sister said in a statement after the verdict.
“It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize that she is no longer here,” Sharon and Lexie Love said.
At U.Va., where Huguely and Love were both seniors, President Teresa Sullivan in a statement extended “sympathy and compassion” to both families “as they face the future and their personal grief.”
For Huguely, that future includes significant prison time. Though he avoided a potential life sentence that a first-degree murder conviction could have carried, the jury of seven men and five women that found him guilty recommended a 25 years in prison for murder and one year for grand larceny.
Circuit Court Judge Edward Hogshire, who presided over the trial, will formally impose Huguely’s sentence later this year. Under Virginia law, he can lower the sentence but not raise it. Judges typically follow the recommendation of the jury.
Hogshire scheduled an April 16 court hearing; another date will likely be set then for Huguely’s formal sentencing.
Before the sentencing, Hogshire will receive a pre-sentence that includes information about Huguely’s background. He and jurors heard from Love’s family Wednesday evening about the impact her death has had.
“I would like to know what she would be doing now,” a sobbing Sharon Love said.
The defense presented no testimony during the sentencing phase – a surprising move, since Huguely’s attorneys had protested a judge’s ruling that his family could not sit in the courtroom during the trial if they planned to testify during any sentencing proceedings. Defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence didn’t explain that decision speaking to reporters late Wednesday and did not return messages Thursday.
Lawrence, who had asked jurors to consider the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, said he was “disappointed” in the verdict and suggested an appeal was likely. He said looked forward to “some corrections” to Wednesday’s proceedings, but did not elaborate.
