Virginia Lax Player Admits Confrontation; Attorney Says Death Was Accident

We’re now in the second day of coverage of the tragic death of women’s lacrosse player Yeardley Love (pictured below, in action for Virginia). George Huguely, a member of the men’s lacrosse team who has been charged with first-degree murder, appeared in court today via video feed. ↵

↵↵According to an affidavit obtained by the Daily Progress, Huguely has given his side of the story to police. The affidavit also gives details that might be unsettling to many readers:↵

↵↵⇥The witnesses at the scene, Caitlin Whiteley and Phillippe Oudshoorn, described finding Yeardley Love face down on her pillow in her bedroom. There was a pool of blood on her pillow. Love had a large bruise on the right side of her face which appears to have been caused by blunt force trauma.↵⇥↵⇥Love’s right eye was swollen shut and there were bruises and scrapes to her chin.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥The door to Love’s bedroom had been forced open and had a hole in it that appeared to have been made by a fist. [...]↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥On May 3, 2010, [...] George Huguely admitted that on May 3, 2010, he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and that during the course of the altercation he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall. Huguely admitted that he kicked his right foot through the door that leads to Love’s bedroom. Your affiant has observed injuries on the right leg of Huguely that are consistent with kicking an object, such as a door. Huguely stated that the front door to the apartment was unlocked.↵⇥

↵↵The affidavit also goes on to confirm what was written in reports on Monday: Huguely and Love had been in a relationship that had ended. Huguely also admitted taking Love’s computer and “disposing” of it, but the police were able to find the computer. All of the details are available here (PDF).
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↵↵⇥“We are confident that Ms. Love’s death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome,” Lawrence said.↵↵↵There were some reports about the cancellation of lacrosse seasons for both the men’s and women’s programs at Virginia, but those were apparently premature and no decision has been made on that front. NYT college writer Pete Thamel posted the following on Monday afternoon: “UVa AD Craig Littlepage said the future of the lacrosse teams’ seasons “hasn’t even entered our thoughts.” Focus is on grieving students.” ↵

↵↵The school -- other than a brief mention in Love’s bio -- hasn’t made any really note about her passing on their athletics website. This is probably a gross understatement, but they’re in an incredibly tough position when acknowledging her death given the ties to Huguely, who is part of the men’s program.↵

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