Court Hears Closing Statements in Huguely Trial

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—The prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments Saturday afternoon in the George Huguely murder trial.

The 24-year-old Chevy Chase man is accused in the May 2010 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love of Cockeysville.

The defense rested its case at around 2 p.m., with Huguely waiving his right to testify.

Visibly emotional, prosecutor Dave Chapman broke down in tears a few times during his closing statement to the jury.

"It goes without saying this woman will never be able to tell you what happened to her," Chapman said.

He began his argument attempting to show that Huguely was acting maliciously when he sent Love an email stating "I should have killed you." Proving malice is necessary to prosecute for first-degree murder in Virginia.

"What are all the escalations you have to go through before you say, 'I should kill you?'" Chapman said. "That's a violent statement."

Chapman furthered argued that holding Love against her will showed disregard for the life of another. He said Huguely gesticulated the motions of the couple's altercation prior to her death—including mimicking her shrinking into a corner to get away from him—during questioning.

"Imagine what it was like in real time under the circumstances," he said.

Defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence said that he also believes Huguely did contribute to Love's death, but it was ultimately the combination of alcohol and the injuries sustained in the altercation that led to her death.

Lawrence then alleged that the prosecution was "overzealous" in its case, stating that Huguely and Love didn't have a healthy relationship but it wasn't a "turbulent, violent" one.

"A 117-pound woman is a force to be reckoned with," he said.

Lawrence added that Huguely certainly did not plan to kill Love.

"There was no intentional killing because he didn't leave her dead when he left her," he said.

Instead, Lawrence portrayed his client as a victim of alcohol.

"We know enough about George to know he's not complicated," he said. "Alcohol is ruining his life."

Lawrence also blamed the culture of Charlottesville's "mens' and womens' lacrosse ghetto," where drama and infidelities are commonplace among young adults.

"You've seen a lot of attractive people come [through the courthouse]," he said. "That's what these kids do."

The jury will begin deliberations on Wednesday at 9 a.m.