Huguely sentence: Both sides plea to judge

The judge sentencing an ex-U.S. college lacrosse player convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend received letters from both sides in the case, prosecutors said. The letters express how George Huguely V's fatal beating of Yeardley Love in a drunken rage May 3, 2010, altered their lives, the prosecutors told WJZ-TV, Baltimore. The letters -- including "victim impact" letters, letters in support of Huguely and letters from a probation officer -- will be included in Wednesday's sentencing hearing, to begin at 1 p.m. EDT, the TV station said. It is not known if Huguely or his parents, or if Love's mother, will make personal appeals to Presiding Circuit Court Judge Edward L. Hogshire. Love's mother has spoken about the tragedy publicly only once. "My daughter was murdered almost two years ago at the University of Virginia by an out-of-control lacrosse player with a violent past," Sharon Love said. "Our lives will never be the same." A Charlottesville, Va., jury Feb. 22 convicted Huguely, 24, of second-degree murder in the death of Love, 22, of the Baltimore suburb of Cockeysville. It also found him guilty of grand larceny after a three-week trial of stealing Love's computer as he left her apartment. It recommended a 25-year sentence on the murder charge and one year on the larceny charge. Hogshire can accept the sentence or lower it, but may not under state law increase it. Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., told police in a taped interview after waiving his Miranda rights he left Love bleeding after kicking a hole in her door to get into her bedroom, enraged after a day of golf and drinking that he'd heard she'd had a relationship with a University of North Carolina lacrosse player. He admitted to police he "shook Love, and her head repeatedly hit the wall," an affidavit stated. But he said he didn't think he'd done anything that could have killed her. Love's right eye was punched in and her brain was bruised by the force of blows, an autopsy indicated. A coroner said she died of blunt force trauma. Huguely will have to serve at least 85 percent of his term under Virginia sentencing rules. He has been held in the Charlottesville jail since his May 4, 2010, arrest, which is expected to be credited to him, The Washington Post said. The 15 percent reduction would depend on Huguely's behavior and participation in educational and vocational programs, the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission says. If he gets the full sentence and earns the maximum reduction, he would have roughly 20 years left to serve, the Post said. Virginia has not had parole since 1995. Defense attorneys can appeal the sentencing after the judge's final order is entered. Huguely had a prior arrest and pleaded guilty in a drunken encounter with a Lexington, Va., police officer during his junior year, court records indicate. The officer testified in court he had to subdue Huguely with a stun gun.