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George Huguely's fate now in jury's hands

NEED TO KNOW
  • Prosecutor's closing arguments brought himself and the victim's family to tears
  • Defense asked jurors to consider involuntary manslaughter, a lesser charge, instead of first-degree or felony murder
  • Jurors will begin deliberations on Wednesday

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A jury now holds the fate of George Huguely in its hands. He's the former University of Virginia Lacrosse player accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love, in a fit of rage in May 2010.

The jury heard closing arguments Saturday and will begin deliberations on Wednesday. They sat through more than four hours of closing arguments. Prosecutor David Chapman's closing arguments were described as emotional and passionate, his own words bringing himself and Love's family to tears. He explained how Love made a life-changing decision for herself and her family when she decided to stay home on May 2, 2010. According to Chapman, that's the day Huguely kicked in her door and beat her to death. He says Love didn't move for two hours before she died.

According to police, Huguely admitted, during an argument, he shook Love so violently her head repeatedly hit the wall behind her, but he says when he left she was alive. The coroner said she died from "blunt force trauma" to the head. Her death came just days after Huguely sent an email threatening to kill her because he was upset she slept with another man.

Get caught up: UVA's lacrosse murder trial

During closing arguments, the defense focused on the couple's sometimes violent on-again, off-again relationship, and reiterated, Huguely only went to Love's apartment to talk to her and make amends.

His attorney, Francis Lawrence, admitted Huguely "bears some responsibility in her death." Lawrence described his client's actions as "stupid, loud and clumsy," but says they weren't premeditated and the prosecution didn't prove an intent to kill. The defense encouraged the jury to consider an involuntary manslaughter, a lesser crime, instead of first-degree murder or felony murder.

Read more: Witnesses: Huguely was drunk the night Love died

Huguely is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, robbery, burglary, statutory burglary and grand larceny.

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