George Huguely gets 23 years in slaying of Yeardley Love

GlobalPost

A former University of Virginia lacrosse player was sentenced to 23 years in prison Thursday for murdering his ex-girlfriend in a drunken rage.

In February, a jury found George W. Huguely V, 24, guilty of second-degree murder in 23-year-old Yeardley Love's death during an argument in her off-campus apartment.

More from GlobalPost: George Huguely V found guilty in murder of Yeardley Love

The jury also convicted him of stealing her computer.

Love's roommate found her lying face down in her blood-soaked pillow on May 3, 2010, the Washington Post reported.

Prosecutors said Huguely kicked in Love's bedroom door and confronted her about their on-again, off-again relationship, slamming her head against the wall and leaving her to die. He had been drinking heavily, Reuters reported.

Circuit Judge Edward Hogshire reduced the jury's recommended sentence by three years.

Huguely's defense team had asked for 14 years, The Associated Press reported

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!