CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WTVR)—George Huguely V has been sentenced for the second-degree murder charge of his former University of Virginia girlfriend Yeardley Love.
Judge Edward Hogshire sentenced Huguely to 23 years, with 1 year for larceny served concurrently. In addition, there will be three years supervised release. The total time he will serve is 23 years.
Also, Huguely was ordered to pay $5,000 in court costs, to replenish the victim's compensation fund.
This is a slight reduction in the jury's recommended sentencing.
In February, a Charlottesville jury convicted Huguely, 24, to second-degree murder in the death of Yeardley Love. Huguely admitted to breaking into Love’s apartment and slamming her head into a wall repeatedly–but he maintained he never intended to kill his one-time girlfriend.
The jury recommended Huguely spend 25 years behind bars for the murder and an additional year in lock-up for stealing Yeardley Love’s computer following the murder; for a total of 26 years.
Huguely's attorneys asked Hogshire to reduce the jury's suggested sentencing to 14 years.
Charlottesville's Commonwealth Attorney Dave Chapman asked Hogshire to impose three years of “post release supervision.” Chapman also asked that the court impose another year of probation for the grand larceny charge and that Huguely not be allowed alcohol for one year after his release.
Huguely will receive credit for the nearly two years he’s already served. He could be released on good behavior after serving 85 percent of his sentence. If so, he would serve 17 years.
If he serves the full sentence he will be 47-years-old when he is released. If he serves reduced sentence, he will be 41-years-old when released.
In court the prosecutor called three witnesses that testified about a pattern of aggressive, drunken behavior.
The defense called two family members, a doctor and family friend, and a priest who has visited Huguely in prison for the past two years.
After closing arguments, Huguely addressed the court saying: "Mrs. Love and Lexie, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope and pray you may find peace."
Yeardley Love’s death raised awareness of domestic violence, by prompting a change in Virginia law making it easier to obtain a protective order for victims, regardless if they are married or not.
