Editor's note: Jean Casarez is a correspondent for In Session on TruTv. She will be inside the courtroom for opening statements in this trial. Watch Jean's report above to learn more about the Lacrosse Murder Trial
George Huguely and Yeardley Love’s story starts off sounding like a familiar college relationship. They had a lot in common. Both played lacrosse for the University of Virginia, and both attended prep schools in Maryland before college.
In the spring of 2010, Huguely and Love’s futures were bright. They were scheduled to graduate from one of the most prestigious public universities in America that May, but something went horribly wrong.
On May 3, 2010, Love’s dead body was discovered face down on her pillow in a pool of blood. Love also had a swollen right eye and severe facial bruising. Huguely and Love had dated, but police documents indicate their relationship ended just before she died, and that they fought the night before her body was found. Huguely's arrest warrant states he told police that he hit Love during that argument and continually banged her head into the wall.
Jury selection in Huguely’s first degree murder trial began Monday, and jurors could hear opening statements starting as early as Wednesday.
The Prosecution’s Case:
Prosecutors will pursue two theories in this trial. The first theory is that Huguely planned and premeditated the murder of his ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love on May 3. The alternative theory they will argue to the jury is that Huguely killed Love during the commission of a felony, namely robbery. This is known as felony murder.
Huguely went to the police station in the hours after Love’s death and his recorded statements will very likely form the basis for their case against Huguely.
It does not appear as though certain things in Huguely’s past, specifically scuffles with other people, will be admissible at trial. However, testimony about his alleged anger and physical interactions with Love could be relevant to the case, and the jury will likely hear about that.
The jury will also likely see some emails that were sent between Huguely and Love if those emails contradict or incriminate Huguely.
The medical examiner’s testimony will be critical, along with the toxicology report. The toxicology testing results will show Yeardley did have some alcohol in her system, as well as the prescription medication Adderall, a drug used to treat adult Attention Deficit Disorder.
Crime scene investigators and emergency personnel will testify about the scene at Yeardley’s apartment, and jurors will hear the 911 call Yeardley’s roommate made when she found Love’s body. She is also expected to take the stand for the prosecution.
The Defense’s Case:
The defense could admit to many things in this case, because Huguely himself told police he went to Love’s apartment in the early morning hours on May 3, and the result was a physical brawl. Huguely described his actions with specificity, and he also told police he left Love’s apartment as she lay on her bed.
The defense will want to focus on Huguely telling police he had no idea that Love had died as a result of the altercation, so expect the defense to claim that when Huguely left Love’s apartment that night he still thought she was alive.
Another critical piece of defense’s case will be cause of death. The defense will use expert testimony to directly contest the official cause of death being blunt force trauma. According to the defense experts, Love died from an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmia. They say the Adderall and alcohol found in her system contributed to her death.
More evidence of Love’s medical history may come out at trial. During a recent pre-trial hearing, attorneys from both sides hinted that undisclosed details of Love’s medical history could become an issue.
Click here to read more about that hearing.
Cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom for the trial, but In Session, HLN, and HLNtv.com will be covering the proceedings from gavel to gavel.
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