Jury recommends 26 years for Huguely

A jury recommended that U.Va. student-athlete George W. Huguely V's serve 26 years in the death of ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love.

Earlier Wednesday evening, the seven-man, five-woman panel convicted Huguely of second-degree murder and grand larceny in the death of his ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love.

Jurors recommended Huguely serve 25 years on the second-degree murder conviction and 1 year on the grand larceny charge. 

Commonwealth's Attorney David Chapman put on two witnesses during the sentencing phase, Love's mother, Sharon Love, and Love's older sister, Lexie Love. 

Sharon Love, widowed before her daughter's death, battled back tears and described the daily fight to stay positive in the wake of the loss of her daughter.

"Every year that goes by I'd like to know what she'd be doing now. I'm like, I'm afraid I'm forgetting little pieces about her."

Lexie Love, a constant presence in the courtroom and whose likeness to her sister is a reminder of Huguely's victim, said the death has damaged her father's last wish. 

"Before dad died, he said to keep the family together. That was always a top priority," said Love, who is engaged. "I'm not as happy as I thought I would be. There's something missing. There's a big hole that will always be there."

Chapman did not ask the jury to impose a specific sentence but reminded them that Huguely, even in prison, would be able to chart the daily goings-on in the world, an opportunity he'd denied Love.

But defense lawyer Rhonda Quagliana stressed to the jury that sentencing should not be retribution and that no matter what the jury decided, the sentence would not bring back Love to her family.

She called a sorrowful letter of Huguely's to Love about the grip of alcohol on him, that it was "ruining my life," was Huguely's first step toward redemption.

It also preceded by months Huguely's violent attack on Love and his decision to leave her without help, bleeding and near-unconscious in her apartment.

But she also drummed home the video of Huguely's interrogation to police, one in which he seemed genuinely distraught and until a detective told him, unaware that Love had died.

"She's not dead. she's not dead. Please tell me she's not dead," Quagliana told to the jury, repeating Huguely's anguished cries.

Before the jury left the courtroom, one juror turned to the judge and asked about the significance of the amount of time Huguely already has served in jail -- he has been held since shortly after the murder, nearly two years. They seemed to be asking whether Huguely gets credit for time served. The judge replied that jury questions should be given in writing.

Earlier, Huguely had no visible reaction as the verdict was read, which jurors reached after nearly nine hours of deliberations. Courtroom observers, which included members of Huguely's and Love's families, remained quiet and well-mannered when the judge read the verdicts.

6:32 p.m.

A court official has announced that the jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of George W. Huguely V, who is charged with killing ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love. The verdict could be announced in the next half-hour, the official said.

(This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more details as they become available. Read more in tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.)

6:15 p.m.

Speculation grew this evening that a seven-man, five-woman jury may be close to a verdict in the George W. Huguely V murder trial after jurors said at 6 p.m. they wanted to meet another hour this evening.

That word, passed to Charlottesville Circuit Judge Edward l. Hogshire, initiated efforts to plan for a verdict and the beginning this evening of hearing new evidence relative to sentencing.

"There are a lot of possible verdicts," said defense lawyer Francis McQ. Lawrence, asking the judge for at least a half-hour to prepare arguments.

The jurors will return at 7 p.m. with word about whether they have a verdict, desire to continue deliberating or will want to retire for the evening.

Whatever the outcome, Hogshire said he would not keep the proceedings going this evening beyond 10 p.m.

Huguely faces possible guilty verdicts bringing as much as three life terms plus 60 years, but he could face as little as one year in jail if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, which his lawyers have asked the jury to strongly consider.

He could be found innocent of all six charges, although his defense team has acknowledged to the jury that Huguely broke into Yeardley Love's apartment, had some sort of altercation with her and left with Love's laptop.

Love was found dead, her head resting facedown in a blood-soaked pillow in the early morning hours of May 3, 2010.

5:09 p.m.

Jurors have told the judge they will deliberate for another hour and give an update on whether they will continue into Wednesday evening.

From earlier reports

Jurors began deliberations this morning in the trial of George Huguely V, accused of murder in the death of fellow University of Virginia student and lacrosse player Yeardley Love.

The panel began deliberations at 9:24 a.m. and within minutes of entering the jury room passed a note to the bailiff asking to get the video of Huguely's interrogation by police about five hours after Love's body was found May 3, 2010. The video had been played during the trial.

Two jury alternates were dismissed by lottery, leaving a panel of seven men and five women. The two dismissed were women who had paid rapt attention throughout the trial. Judge Edward Hogshire told them to be sure they had no media contact in case their service should be needed.

As Hogshire sent the jury to work, he said, "I'll look forward to your verdict."