George Huguely has been found guilty of second-degree murder and grand larceny in Charlottesville Circuit Court. Huguely was acquitted of burglary, robbery and first-degree murder.
The jury took almost exactly nine hours to deliberate.
In Virginia, sentences for second-degree murder can range from years up to 40.
Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., was arrested hours after the body of Yeardley Love, his ex-girlfriend from Cockeysville, Md., was found in her 14th Street Northwest apartment.
Over the course of an 11-day trial, jurors heard of a tumultuous, at times manifestly aggressive relationship between the two University of Virginia fourth-years, one that culminated late on the night of May 2, 2010.
Prosecution and defense agreed that Huguely forced his way into Love’s bedroom and that from there things got physical. Both of the students were 22-years-old and intoxicated at the time.
An autopsy later concluded that Love died of blunt-force trauma to the head and in court Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman made a point of highlighting the size difference between the petite Love and Huguely, who stands more than six feet tall.
Defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence described the struggle as a tragic accident from which his client fled having no idea of its dire outcome. Medical experts called by the defense discounted the blunt-force theory and suggested that Love may have asphyxiated on her own bloody bedding.
Love was discovered by a roommate and pronounced dead at the scene early in the morning of May 3 by medics who tried for more than 20 minutes to revive her. The call had originally come in as a possible alcohol overdose.
Judge Edward Hogshire has given the jury instruction on its sentencing recommendation and now testimony is being delivered ahead of their decision.
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