George Huguely Murder Trial: Jury Recommends 26 Years In Prison For Ex-Virginia Lacrosse Player

The jury turned in a recommendation of 26 years in prison for George Huguely in the murder trial of Yeardley Love on Wednesday. SB Nation has a medical expert that looked into the death of Yeardley Love and came to some conclusions about what exactly killed her.

In the end, the one explanation that ties together all of the medical testimony heard by the jury on Love's death -- the specific injuries to the brain, her signs and symptoms following the altercation and speed with which her health deteriorated -- is that she died due to traumatic brain injury. And, sadly, for Yeardley Love, the most likely diagnosis is also the most painful for all of us to comprehend.

If this really was the case, then this seems to indicate that Huguely was involved in her death more so than the defense in the trial would like to admit. It doesn't come as a big surprise because this is what everyone had been thinking since the arrest first took place, but it seems the autopsy has confirmed what we all feared.

Click here for more on the George Huguely murder trial.

George Huguely was convicted of second degree murder and grand larceny in the Virginia Lacrosse Murder Trial on Wednesday evening. Huguely was accused of murdering Virginia women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love in her apartment and then stealing her laptop. It took the jury roughly nine hours to come to the decision, but not nearly as long to recommend a sentence for Huguely.

After a little over two hours of deliberation, the jury has recommended a total of 26 years in prison for Huguely. The jury recommends 25 years for the second degree murder conviction and 1 year for the grand larceny conviction. With the jury's recommendation, Judge Hogshire will now determine what the actual sentencing will be. The sentencing date has officially been set for April 16, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The Love family released a statement after the trial, "It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize she is no longer here."

Click here for more on the George Huguely murder trial.

Earlier Wednesday evening, a jury found George Huguely guilty on two of the six counts that he was charged with in the Virginia LaCrosse Trail. Huguely was accused of murdering former Virginia women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love in May of 2010 and then stealing her laptop afterwards. Huguely was convicted of second degree murder and grand larceny.

David Fucillo of SB Nation explains what the second degree murder conviction means and what kind of jail time it can bring:

In finding Huguely guilty of second degree murder as opposed to first degree murder, the jury likely decided that while Huguely had malice in his heart, he did not commit the murder in a willful, deliberate and premeditated manner. At the same time, the jury also did not buy that this was a case of mistake and tragedy as the defense tried to portray it. Rather, Huguely had intent to kill Yeardley Love and went through it without, albeit without plan and purpose.

...

The second degree murder conviction carries with it a sentence of five to 40 years in state prison.

Fucillo also explains what the grand larceny conviction means and what kind of jail time it can bring:

The grand larceny charge relates to the theft of Love's laptop. Evidence indicated Huguely had walked out with Love's laptop after he killed her. In Virginia, grand larceny involves one of multiple possibilities. If a good was taken off the person of another, the value only needs to exceed $5. If the good was not taken directly from the person of another, the value must exceed $200.

...

The grand larceny conviction carries with it a sentence that includes imprisonment for one to 20 years and/or up to a year in jail.

The trial is now in the sentencing stage, which will feature testimony from both sides to convince the jury of a lesser or greater sentence on Huguely's charges. Huguely has already served 21 months in jail, which will count as time served when the sentencing is finalized. Huguely is facing a maximum sentence of 60 years in jail.

Click here for more on the George Huguely murder trial.

The jury deliberations in the trial of former Landon and Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely have finished, and Huguely has been found guilty on two of six counts. The jury found Huguely guilty of second-degree murder and grand larceny, but has found him innocent on the counts of first-degree murder in commission of a robbery, robbery, breaking and entering with the intent of grand larceny and breaking and entering with the intent to commit assault and battery.

It took the jury nine hours of deliberation to come to their decision. Huguely was accused of killing Yeardly Love, a former Virginia women's lacrosse player, in May of 2010. The prosecution argued that Huguely entered Love's room she was sleeping, and in the days prior, Huguely reportedly emailed her in a rage about her having slept with another man. The prosecution contended Huguely assaulted her out of jealousy and slammed her head against a wall repeatedly. Afterwards, Huguely grabbed Love's laptop and left her bleeding until she eventually died.

The prosecution charged Huguely with six separate crimes, allowing the jury to convict on a lesser charge if they saw fit. The court is in the process of the sentencing phase on Wednesday night.

Click here for more on the George Huguely murder trial.