Lax Player's Death “Accident With Tragic Outcome”: Attorney

UVA player charged in death of female player

The University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing a member of Virginia's women's lacrosse team admitted to police that he shook her during an altercation and her head repeatedly hit the wall, according to an affidavit requesting search warrants for both students' apartments.

Yeardley Love's roommates, Caitlin Whiteley and Phillippe Oudshoorn, found her face down in bed, according to the affidavit. Paramedics found a pool of blood on Love's pillow, according to the affidavit. The affidavit said she had a large bruise on the right side of her face, her right eye was swollen shut and there were bruises and scrapes on her chin, News4's Julie Carey reported.

George Huguely waived his Miranda rights and admitted kicking the door to Love's room open, according to the affidavit. He had a leg injury consistent with kicking a door. Huguely said the front door to Love's apartment was unlocked.

"He was upset," Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo said about Huguely's demeanor during his videotaped interview. "I think he was, in various times throughout the morning, emotional. But by the same token I would characterize his conduct and interaction with the investigators as cooperative."

A warrant also was obtained to collect DNA and physical evidence from Huguely, including X-rays of his hands and the examination of visible injuries. According to the affidavit, Huguely told police he also took Love's computer to dispose of it, but it has since been recovered.

Huguely's attorney said the death was an accident. Fran Lawrence, defense attorney for Huguely, said his client is withdrawing from the university but did not comment on the death investigation of Love.

"We are confident that Ms. Love's death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome," Lawrence said.

Huguely, a senior on the No. 1-ranked University of Virginia men's lacrosse team from Chevy Chase, Md., has been charged with murder. Police say he and Love had been in a relationship, but investigators plan to interview fellow players and friends about the nature of the relationship.

Huguely and Love had an on-and-off relationship, according to sources close to Love's friends. The sources said Huguely physcially abused her in the past, but nothing was reported to police, Carey reported.

Love, from Cockeysville, Md., who said she always dreamed of playing lacrosse at Virginia, was only weeks from earning a degree, and she and her teammates were expecting to end their season by winning a national championship. Instead, her life ended before either goal could be accomplished.

Love's roommate called police around 2:15 a.m. Monday concerned that Love may have had an alcohol overdose, Longo said, but police found her dead with obvious physical injuries.

He said he did not believe any weapons were used in the killing.

Speaking on three television networks Tuesday morning, Longo declined to give many details in the case, citing the ongoing investigation.

Huguely, who attended Landon School in Bethesda, appeared by videoconference Tuesday at a court hearing, wearing a gray-striped jail uniform. He did not speak during the proceeding between his lawyers and the judge. There was no discussion of bond for him. His next court date is scheduled for June 10. He is being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Huguely's parents and stepfather were in the courtroom.

As the news trickled throughout campus, a steady stream of students preparing for finals later in the week wandered down the apartment-lined street where Love's body was found. Drivers slowed down and pointed as they approached the building.

Suggestions it may have been a domestic situation did little to ease concerns.

"Just to hear that anybody in the U.Va. community could be suspected of that, regardless of the relationship, does give you a sense of unease," said Drew Cook, 22, of Burke, said.

Kyle Cecil, 22, of Newport News, said he lived on the same hall as Huguely as freshman, and knew him well enough to say hello. He was shocked to see police cars at the building on his way to class, and more shocked when he learned of Huguely's arrest on a murder charge.

Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president of the university, told reporters the campus was saddened, and that the pain is magnified because the accused is "one of our own."

The lacrosse teams met at least once during the day, but lacrosse players and school officials declined repeatedly to comment during the day, referring to a school statement.

Both the men's and women's teams are national title contenders. The NCAA tournament pairings are to be announced Sunday, and the men's team is expected to host a first-round game, and the women's team is also anticipating being included.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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