Death of lacrosse player not intentional, defense lawyer says

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The lawyer for a the man accused of killing a University of Virginia women’s lacrosse player said the death was not intentional.

George Huguely, a men’s lacrosse player and a senior at the school, has been charged with the first-degree murder of Yeardley Love, also a senior.

‘Until more information becomes available, it is our hope that no conclusions will be drawn or judgments made about George or his case,’ defense lawyer Francis Lawrence said in a statement to reporters outside a courthouse. ‘We are confident that Ms. Love’s death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome.’

Lawrence did not elaborate and said he would have no further comment.

[Updated, 11:45 a.m.: According to a court document in the case, Huguely told police he shook Love and hit her head repeatedly against a wall.

An affidavit filed with a search warrant said police found Love face down in her bedroom with a pool of blood on her pillow, a large bruise on her face and one eye swollen shut.

Police said Huguely told them he had had an altercation with Love and had kicked in her door.

‘Huguely stated that he and Love had been in a relationship and that the relationship had ended,’ the document said.]

Huguely was arrested hours after Love’s body was found at her apartment early Monday morning. He appeared by video conference at a court hearing on Tuesday but did not speak during the proceeding between his lawyers and the judge. There was no discussion of bond for him.

Huguely’s parents and stepfather were in the courtroom but left the courthouse through the back without talking to reporters.

Police have released few details in the case. They said Love and Huguely, both 22, had been in a relationship at some point and that investigators plan to interview other lacrosse players and friends about the nature of the relationship.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

/ Associated Press. Yeardley Love in March 2009. Credit: Andrew Shurtleff / The Daily Progress/Associated Press