Final day? Huguely arrives for judgment

Make Cville look bad? Ah - can we look any worse? (Which would require a whole article to list the insane things Cville and it's government and UVa have done/not done through the years.)

Really, you think Charlottesville looks bad? Evidently you are not familiar with New York or New Jersey politics. A few years ago, several dozen community leaders and politicians in New York City and New Jersey -- including mayors and city councilmen from cities about the size of Charlottesville -- were arrested for their involvement with an organ smuggling racket. I may not be familiar enough with Charlottesville's political scandals, but it seems like this city would be hard pressed to beat the sort of corruption I saw growing up.

realist: Cho was schizophrenic and had mental problems that were identified by his professors but not properly addressed, there were all sorts of red flags, and he was sober when he shot those people.

@ B - Please do your research and stop posting falsehoods. "It mushroomed into a political corruption probe, culminating in the arrests this week of 44 people, including three New Jersey mayors, various other officials, and five rabbis.

The politicians and rabbis were not accused of involvement in the organ trafficking.

Levy Izhak Rosenbaum of Brooklyn called himself a "matchmaker," but his business wasn't romance. Instead, authorities say, he brokered the sale of black-market kidneys, buying organs from vulnerable people from Israel for $10,000 and selling them to desperate patients in the U.S. for as much as $160,000.

realist: I know, it's sad.

So what do the prosecution and defence teams do now? Do they head down the pub and nervously smoke cigarettes in anticipation?

well said: fingers crossed for justice for yeardley.

I agree with myself.

You and I can agree to disagree crunch girl, and I respect your opinion, but he beat her senseless and along with prison he needs pyschological and mental health support! He will do this again, if provoked, in a heartbeat!

Cviller --

Oh, sorry about that, only one of them was arrested for organ trafficking, and the rest were arrested for money laundering and corruption. Thank you for the correction, glad to see that Jersey politicians are only involved with organized crime when it comes to traditional bribery, money laundering schemes, and real estate deals, and are only loosely connected to organ trafficking. I will try not to make such terrible mistakes in the future, I was only going from memory, next time I will be sure to carefully research my comments before posting them on this blog.

-- B

red: Do you think they'll allow Huguely a pack of cigarettes?

I don't even know what LSD is. He is handsome and other than his drinkiing he is a nice boy. Lots of people are recovering alcoholics who were not nice when they drank. It was an accident. Didn't his team mate kill some one in a game? it was an accident but I bet the mom and dad wish he was never on this planet. People die everyday at the hands of drunk drivers or at the hands of someone who did something wrong and it was an accident.

I hope none of you are involved in something bad. Oh wait! noone will care because you are a fat cat lady pretending to know things you don't. How do we know that she wouldn't have gotten bhind the wheel the next day drunk and taken out a bus load of kids. We don't. His sentence should be fair and fair would be manslaughter.

For your info Crunch Girl I know GWHV family well!!!!!

BTW - chesapke bay person - you are nice. We can just agree to disagree. I see ur point that u feel bad for L.

Maybe George was LSDing. My point is that lots of bad things happen that are accidnets and if ur the victims family know matter how much of an accident was u hate that person and wish they would be on trial and slandered like george I am sure the family of Clausens victim dn't like reading that he was going on a beer run.

Duke I sincerely hope so and I can only hope this has made an impression, but I am very skepitcal about GWHV. I agree with you wholeheartedly that he needs professional help!!

This must be so nerve-wracking for everyone involved. Waiting...and waiting...

I have to agree Kate especially for the families!

I remember when I once put chocolate milk in my Crunch Berries and topped it off with Red Bull...

I rambled and muttered rubbish much like our dear Cap'n Crunch Girl...

And note the correct spelling of Cap'n's name, luv!

zombie hands -- the shared apartment was unlocked but her bedroom door was locked. He kicked it in and (according to his confession) she woke up freaking out to find him standing over her.

I used to feed Cap'n Crunch to the dog...

captain crunch girl: "trashy" and "stupid" don't always go together...just saying...

OK, Cap'n Crunch Girl....now it just seems obvious that you haven't taken the time to learn of the fella's history. This isn't a "oops I drank too much and accidentally soiled your couch" thing, or even a "oops I drank too much and had a bar room brawl," or a DUI...it's about the taking of a life. This guy wasn't blacked out, nor is he unintelligent, so there's just no way this guy couldn't or shouldn't have realized, at some point in the ferocity, that he was going too far and that this could cost someone their life. Sure, others may argue under the"crime of passion" or "temp insanity" mindset, but I obviously don't buy that. He'd had a history of violence, had had thoughts(even if only fantasy) of killing her, so as a responsible/intelligent"grown-up" he should have recognized his potential and not have gone to see her that night. So no, it's not an accident.

I see a huge difference between DUI and bludgeoning someone with aggression. Yes, there's always the potential of a devastating accident when one gets behind the wheel intoxicated. You could call it an accident waiting to happen. In my view, there shoujld be greater cupability when Russian Roulette is played with a several ton, fast moving iron box.

But a person doesn't become "accidentally" enraged. A person doesn't accidentally kick in a door and then accidentally beat someone senseless, even if alcohol is present. Yes, this whole narrative is "unfortunate" but it's not an unfortunate accident.

Intention can be formed in fleeting moments. Alcohol played a role, but not one that earns a get out of jail free card, nor one that eroded all judgement. Too many of GHVs actions showed presence of mind. Too many things don't add up to a black out night with not one shred of mental faculties operating. Getting to murder 1 in the legal sense may not be possible. But there's ample evidence on the counts above manslaughter. Love shouldn't take the rap for deciding to go to sleep early that night, rather than go out again with her friends.

Let justice be done.

CC's "R U allowed to write to him?"

Now I do have to thank you for that, because that's the first post that caused me to bark out a real laugh. Absolutely you're allowed to write to him, and I suggest you start there as your first step in a perfectly healthy, albeit stalker-ish, relationship w/ him. Then you can come back here and say "OK, I wrote him and sure enough he said he didn't mean to do it...so there, it was an accident. I heart him and plan to bear his offspring."

Ok to follow ur LSAT logic of Trashy is stupid as to Drunk is to not unintelligent I have to say I don'[t get it. . BTW, I am intelligent. I am young and in college and this sort of stuff happens during parties. I think it speaks more alcohol abuse then it does domestic violence.

@ Captain Crunch Girl.... Just how clueless and desperate are you?

Seriously?: I agree with you, if I were a guessing man I'd say our cereal stalker (get it?) is probably at Elon or ODU.

CC girl - YES! You can certainly write to Mr. H.
Kate - Yes! Well stated.
Al - Yes! Not sure if CC meant humor or was actually being serious. Interesting question is are their restrictions on the amount of mail he can receive? Surely he will be receiving bags of mail from the likes of CC, domestic violence groups, friends/supporters and haters.

And as a postscript to my earlier comment, it's not to say that I don't agree that Huguely's a good looking guy, in fact the difference between his before and after shots is mind boggling. It's like looking at pics of two brothers, versus the same guy. Where one is the ne'er-do-well, bloated, sweaty oaf, and the other is the one that's always been more attractive, in shape and succesful. Just very weird to think it's all the same guy. And I think it's a shame that a guy like this will have his whole life and all that potential thrown down the toilet because of this. Even if he gets off his life will not be what it could have been had this never happened. And first and foremost I look at the family as the culprit. Like, what happened there? What went wrong behind closed doors growing up that this guy became a raging, self centered, out of control alcoholic by the time he was only 22?? People aren't born like that, they're created. Something went wrong in his family, BIG time. So I do actually have empathy for that aspect of things. But I can also see how this guy is going to have a gaggle of creepy, maladjusted females chasing after him once he's behind bars. And if he's set free, even more so, because there are females who like the idea of being wth somebody "dangerous." It's like, come on chickies...seriously??

I have to congratulate the Captain on her biting satire.

the troll is most likely a fat, hairy middle aged guy enjoying himself immensely

I'm still banking on manslaughter

Even Charles Manson has his admirers, Captin Crunch Girl. SMH (language she can understand). This is what our colleges are admitting and graduating. We are doomed.

@Kate Burg - you and I must be sisters from different parents on the way we view this.

And @boooo! - I agree with you but on the flip side, I've known people who came from truly horrid backgrounds who put it behind them and are well-adjusted members of society too.

Captain Crunch Girl will probably create a fan club for this numbskull...bet me on that one?

Cville Native, no bets on the fan club...that girl obviously is smitten by the "pretty boy". CCG will mature one day and think "did I really say that?" (hopefully anyway).

Cap Crunch Girl - using alcohol as an excuse for his bad actions is not even a BAD defense. He CHOSE to use this drug, he CHOSE to act violently and he CHOSE to beat that poor girl to death. He deserves to be punished, period. And yes, in the case of drunk drivers that kill others, I say throw the book at em. They CHOSE to do the drug.

The boy is as guilty as a cat with his head stuck in a goldfish bowl. Hopefully the jury will nail him to the wall and maybe some people will wake up and deal with brats like this when they are young enough to save.

I would imagine that since he was denied nothing, not being able to "own" this poor girl made him decide to "break" her so no one else could have her either. Thats most likley what he did to the family car when they told him he couldn't use it.

The mentality of the cereal eater is not far fetched. They often don't see reality or mortality until it hits them in the face . I venture to guess that he/she is actually in college. The points she/he brings to light are valid in the eyes of a young person who would otherwise not be exposed to such a heinous crime.

He's mine!

Lets not fight over him... he might get "Life"

Deliberations in the 4th hour....no clue when they'll be finished. There's lots to discuss, I imagine.

I'd expect the deliberations to go well into tomorrow, perhaps longer. Just my opinion on it.

Duke - was that the WaPo article today?

Pretty silly. Bars change all the time, but people and drinking stay mostly the same. Boylan Heights was "Orbit" when I was a student, and it was known as a "townie" bar that students rarely frequented. But there was plenty of insanity at O'Neills, Biltmore, Coupe's, Buddhist Biker Bar, etc. Probably not much different than today.

@Captain Crunch Girl - you really should just stop adding your 2 cents. You have no idea what you're talking about, and clearly too immature to add anything remotely insightful on the subject. Go find a chat that's more your speed.

There were far more drinking establishments back in the day for college kids. A great example is Georgetown in DC. The drinking age in maryland and DC was 18 until the mid 80s. The scene was packed with affordable drinking establishments geared specifically to the under 21 crowd from all over the region. Field parties were plentiful in potomac, and just about everyone knew someone at a college dorm (which were not drug and alcohol free zones). I would love to know how and where kids party now.

Just more inane banter from the Washington Post. I put that 'newspaper' on ignore years ago.

But then again, I just read the article...so nevermind!

I attended UVa in the 60s. Yes, there was lots of drinking(and other substances had started to come in). And I am sure there were rapes in the frat houses.
But no one killed anyone or went around with a bowie knife like Andrew Alston.
Plenty people got very drunk. But to point to alcohol or any other substance as the sole cause of violence that people like Alston and Huguely perpetrated is too facile, shallow explanation. Yes, there are "mean drunks"- but throwing a punch in a bar is a lot different than going to someone's home, breaking in, mercilessly assaulting them, and then stealing something that might have been evidence against them- her laptop.
The " drug" if we must name one that causes the most male violence-testosterone!
Sad to say our culture has both grown more violent, but also seems more accepting of violence. I often like to remind people that at Woodstock there were between a quarter million and a half million people, many taking everything there was to take, and there was not as much as a fistfight.
Its fashionable to sneer at the " love and peace" message of the 60s- but those of us students who sat around listening to Joan Baez and reading Gandhi and Martin Luther King would, I really don't think,have done something like George Huguely did.

Amen, Hollow Boy!

I think the comments from the owner of the restaurant are really ill advised and take away from the serious nature of this story. This is a murder trial. Act accordingly, rather than trying to pimp what I can only assume is a potential advertiser for your product.

curious what changed your mind, sue lord....?

Nice, Sam.

Sue - I've been back and forth.

However, when you are participating in an activity which is likely to cause the other great bodily harm or death: what exactly are you intending?

While I still feel sorry for him, as he was failed miserably by his parents, I do feel that he went with the intent to kill.

Mainly his evil, violent rant towards the female police officer and his attack of another teammate. I assume that the jury did not hear testimony in that regard, although they should have.

Further, his email threat , the previous chokehold, and likely many other incidences of violence about which we will never know.

To the poster who feels that women find him attractive and therefore 'innocent', how do you explain Miss Love's attraction to him and tolerance of his bad behavior?

I read all of the charges that David Heilberg describes in a previous article.

Let's says he is found gulity of manslaughter (gets 10 years), found guilty of burglary (gets 10 years), and found guilty of robbery (get 10 years). Is it up to Hogshire whether he serves these sentences consecutively (30 years total) or concurrently (10 years total)?

REASON- "a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event."

what is the common wisdom about how long they deliberate? Is longer better for the prosecution or the defense?

IMO...niether would I, but I am stuck here at the office for another 35 minutes and felt like arsing around on company time for some of the day.

Come 4:00pm, I am out of here for a cold one. Maybe the patio is open at Boylan Heights so I can partake in at least some of this beautiful afternoon.

I think "conventional wisdom" is that the shorter the deliberation, the better that is for prosecution. However, Casey Anthony was pretty short and they came back with not guilty.

I think with charges this complex and inter-related, there's really no way to tell.

Too Funny Cheryl. I am wondering if you work at our company. Boss out and everyone seems to be typing too frantically to actually be working.

Baggby's sandwiches... hmm... Not a good sign. They'll still be hungry after lunch. This could be bad for the defense.

OUtside of the courtroom, are Lawrence, Hogshire, and Chapman all drinking buddies?

Just started reading about this case when the trial started . Initially thought it was manslaughter but that description doesn't apply .Felony murder is what it should be . Twenty years to life .

I have just finished reading all the previous posts. If John Grisham doesn't write a novel with all the fodder on here and on the other weekly paper's web site, I'd be amazed.

Is it just me or is the constant comment from all the defense bar of concern to others in the community?

What if the jury goes home for the night and sees, reads or hears all of these uninformed comments? This isn't a ballgame with color commentary; this is for real.

When this trial is all over, I plan to ask the discipline committee of the State of Virginia Bar to take a hard look at all the sidewalk superintendents and express an opinion of the behavior of the defense bar in Cville who kept talking about a case about which they had no more direct knowledge of than the writers on this blog.

I guess it must be lawyer evny!

Skinny George versus fat George. Makes one wonder if that's just the perception that the defense ordered, as in he doesn't look like he could beat his way out of a wet paper bag much less kill someone with his bare hands.

Frank -- on what theory do you think the jury will find Felony Murder? In the indictment, the Felony Murder count only specifies robbery. Therefore, to prevail on the felony murder charge the jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that Huguely went to the apartment TO STEAL THE LAPTOP -- and it was worth $200. Do you really think that was proved, based on the publicly known evidence? The indictment does not list burglary under the Felony Murder count, so a conviction on burglary can not lead to a FM finding.

Observer-- He said he burglarized her residence to gain entrance so he could talk to her . Assaulting her and stealing the computer was done to achieve his premeditated objective of what he terms as" talking with her" .There is no doubt . He unwittingly admits it all .

I think we need to avoid the temptation to just paint someone as completely bad and to project all our hate on to them as well as other posters like CC. I think Sue Lord is the only one here who has hit the nail on the head. Clearly Huguely's home life set him up pretty badly for anger issues and alcohol abuse. IMO said alcohol was the problem but I don't think alcohol abuse is the cause, but rather, the symptom of a very troubled person. In the last moments of Love's life, her suffering was intense - such a terrible way to die, alone and unable to move or call for help. The only saving grace for her is that it was over in a few hours. Everyone left behind - her family and friends, Huguely and his family and friends will suffer over this for the rest of their lives. I do feel for Huguely, because apart from any conviction and sentencing he gets, he will have to live with this for the rest of his life. I do believe that he feels remorse, because his responses indicate so and because after all he was in love with her - unhealthy love, yes but still love. I compare this with the Amanda Knox case where she never at any time showed true remorse for what happened to the woman she was convicted of killing. When I see remorse, I feel better, because remorse is the first step towards rehabilitation. I pray that Huguely will be redeemed.

Conviction of robbery is a cinch .

I've been praying for both families. Today I pray strongly for the Jury. Give them the guidance, Lord, to make the right decision in this matter. And, please, when the verdict is returned help everyone to accept it and know that juries decisions are based on what is presented in the case. Jurors are only human, flesh and blood. Thank you God.

Thoughtful:

Though I respect your opinion I remain convinced that he absolutely does not feel remorse. I believe his track record speaks to this- never fearing consequence for his actions because of parents who will help him evade responsibility...they're enablers, in my opinion. His track history also demonstrates that he believes violence is justified or warranted. His demonstrated treatment of women suggests it's more than likely he's feeling sorry for himself and pissed at her (as in "look what she caused to happen.") I believe in his eyes he's no more responsible for this than his other past "transgressions." So No Way- I do not for a moment believe he'll "have to live with this for the rest of his life." He'll rationalize it off- blaming her, alcohol, parents...anyone but himself. I believe this because of his history (choking a girl? C'mon...)

And sorry, but I have Absolutely No patience for this parents bearing responsibility Crap. Sure, to a certain extent he's a product of his up bringing, but only to a very limited extent. I mean come on- he was 22, intelligent, aware of his temper, drinking, etc. so it is incumbent upon him as a rational, intelligent person to discern right from wrong, to understand consequence. He chose not to, because he feels above the law and above norms. This is about personal responsibility and accountability, of which he has none. As others have said many come from adverse backgrounds (myself among them...makes Georgie's life look like a Disney vacation) and these folks chose to learn from the shortcomings of their backgrounds and grow to do the right things. There's no way you can convince me to feel sorry for this snot when he was intelligent enough to mak the right choices and clearly chose to make deadly ones.

Verdict: Second Degree murder - guilty
Grand Larceny - guilty

Not necessarily a long time...5-40 years, so it could vary wildly. It will be interesting to see.

wrong verdict, should have been vol mansl.

Kate is right- they may have wanted to make a statement by charge conviction, but may try to show some mercy in sentencing...that may have been the compromise.

Captain Crunch Girl: Now would be the time for you to mail your sympathy letter along with a pair of your panties. I wish you both happiness.

If they found him guilty of 2nd degree murder, I doubt they'll sentence him to less than the max for involuntary manslaughter.

I think it's the right verdict, although I would have liked to have seen the breaking and entering too. I guess that since the B+E was tied to the robbery, they figured the murder and larceny covered it.

This jury deserves alot of credit for arriving at this. Let's hope the sentencing goes well too.

I think it's 20 to life, right? With the Grand Theft mitigator?

What works against him sentencing wise is that all the BS his attorneys were spewing is now completely out the window. He's guilty of thrashing this young woman to her death. There is absolutely no disputing that.

In the sentencing it can be pointed out that he's been a no-good punk for a long, long time. This isn't his first rodeo.

This will be contrasted with the spirity and character of Miss Love, whose life he destroyed.

Justice DEMANDS a harsh, harsh sentence. He should not breathe free air as a young man.

meanwhile - his family will testify too though, not just hers.

Prayers - they're testifying now. Yeardley's mom went, and now her sister. Some of his family will testify, and perhaps he could also. I'm keeping up with it on NBC29's Huguely twitter.

Running Bear is right. All alcohol does is reveal what lies beneath the veneer of sobriety. Mean and violent drunks are mean and violent people at heart.

I'm not disappointed in the verdict. Let's hope the sentence is adequate. IMO, manslaughter was completely off the table. The consciousness of guilt and the forced entry were above and beyond any manslaughter charges. GH5 went looking for YL. He didn't run into her by accident. He targeted her. And he knew she was seriously injured when he left her. If it had been an "accident" he would have called 911 and tried to help her, not stolen her computer and lie about where he'd been. IMO, the remorse he has shown is for himself, it's remorse for throwing his life away not remorse for the victim and her family.

Thank you, Kate. Calling no one makes sense. They are not going to ask for Mercy from the Jury. IT will be up to the defense team to tell the story of who GHV is. Not try to outshine the Victim's family and friends.

That makes sense, Prayers.

Al - I can't agree with you and you are making a lot of speculations as to what Huguley thinks. I judge based on his behavior during his interrogation, the trial and right now - as Hugueley listens to the the testimony of Love's mother and sister during the sentencing session, he is wiping away tears as he did during the trial. I think that is a sign of remorse. I don't believe in writing someone off just because they have done wrong. We are all a part of God, and we can all be redeemed. Meantime, justice is being served according to the legal system with a second degree murder conviction. Don't underestimate the effect of upbringing. Personally I can attest to the damage that results from having two highly dysfunctional parents. Intelligence is not always a protection from temper - again I can speak from experience - I had a very intelligent father and husband and both had serious anger problems, sometimes leading to violence. Huguley's family life doesn't at all sound like a Disney vacation from some of the stories I have heard, and wealth does not determine happiness. You don't have to feel sorry for him, but I believe in the sanctity of all life and the compassion that we need to extend to our fellow human beings. Personally, I think the self righteous, hateful and at times violent posts exhibited on this thread are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Peace to all.

To the best of my knowledge, GH5 did not cry until he was brought in for questioning. IOW, after he was caught. Did his roommates testify that he was crying when he returned home after brutally beating YL? It sounds like they testified that he was "acting strange" and lied about where he'd been. He broke into her room, beat her, and left her to die. A remorseful person calls 911, IMO. (Actually, a remorseful person stops at breaking the door down, apologizes, and offers to pay to fix the door.)

thoughtful - I respect your viewpoint but you are also making speculations. How do you know his tears are not just because he's been convicted of murder? You are not inside his head either, and tears are many times selfishly shed.
His time to cry was the night he beat up Yeardley. And he should have called 911 as well.

I don't think he's faking his tears. But neither one of us knows exactly whom they are for. I think most people would cry if they were just convicted of murder. That does not equal remorse to me. He has a whole lot of work to do in the future for me to believe he is truly remorseful.
Alas, though, it won't be long before he'll have a new girlfriend.

Also Huguley apparently did not cry when the verdict was delivered. He cried when he heard Love's mother and sister talk about the impact of her death on them.

Thoughtful - You are correct. And that is because Knox did not have anything to do with that girl's death. So no remorse to shed tears. And you are correct also that he cried during the impact statement not at the reading of the verdict. He knew he would be found guilty. That was not the reason he cried.

Prayers for everyone in this situation. It is just very sad. About the saddest I have ever seen. No winners, folks.

@waiting and waiting... - I agree with you about "his tears", I don't think he has remorse - except that he didn't get away with it.

Prayers and Thoughtful, respect your view but unless you had a child ripped from you by death - you have no clue the anger and feelings her mother feels. I'm postive that both her mother and sister view his tears as not real too. Until you walk in shoes like that - you really can not measure intent or the meaning behind anything. You don't know this man. They did.

Hey CVille. I have been in both shoes. So, please just stop. Believe me. There are no winners here and you can debate this ad nauseam. Do not assume to know me or what tragedy I have had in my lifetime. TAnd I know, while the Love's think they will feel relief it will not ever come. And for GHV and his family there will never be enough remorse.

Interesting 25 years for 2nd degree murder and one year for grand larceny - the same as Amanda Knox's sentence - 25 years for murder plus an extra year for something else. -before it was overturned at appeal.

No, not at all. I was just struck by the exact same sentence - and she was also 24 when convicted.

Waiting and Waiting - I was simply struck by the fact that the sentence was exactly the same. I was only pointing out the numbers and that is all. Dude, chill.

@Prayers - don't tell me to "stop" - how DARE you! Jump off a bridge please because you are probably one of those typical Bible Thumping, scripture quoting people around here who do not walk the walk.

The man murdered someone's child - the results - what he and his family are going through are HIS fault - you make the bed, you lie in it.

Good God I am so sick and tired of people out there giving others a reason to divert responsiblity.

No winners - of course not but it came about from ONE person's choice to behave or act in a way that killed another. Those are the facts - I now no longer respect your opinion. I diplore it!

Duke -- see this: http://www.snookandhaughey.com/news/huguely-the-aftermath/

I find it very ironic that on this thread that people are condemning the violent actions of someone and yet communicating in violent ways to each other. Is it too much to ask for civility in posts here? Is there a moderator watching this?

@Thoughtful, when people drag their religion into the discussion they invite discussion about their religion. Can't have it both ways. Either leave religion out of the conversation, or put up with the blowback. Personally, I find the self-righteous comments offensive but I doubt that will hinder the sanctimonious blather. Ya just gotta let it roll off your back.