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UVA Lacrosse Murder Trial Begins for George Huguely

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on February 06, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Jury selection in the George Huguely trial began Monday after the former University of Virginia lacrosse player pleaded not guilty to murder. He's being charged in the 2010 death of his ex-girlfriend, lacrosse star Yeardley Love.

The murder shocked the college town of Charlottesville, Va., where Love was found beaten and face-down in a pool of blood. The incident led police to Huguely, who has been charged with first degree murder and five other crimes.

The George Huguely trial verdict will ultimately turn on how the jury reacts to the defendant's videotaped confession. He waived his Miranda Rights and spoke to police, according to ABC News. He told investigators that he kicked down Love's door and shook her violently.

However, he contends that her death was not his fault -- she allegedly had an irregular heartbeat caused by Adderall and alcohol. But the autopsy report suggests that the drugs did not contribute to her death.

Though it's impossible to predict how the jury will respond to this theory, there is one thing of which you can be relatively sure:

It was not a good idea for George Huguely to talk to the police without an attorney.

There is little good that can come from talking to police without representation. Even innocent people can be tripped up and suddenly find themselves suspected of a crime. Attorneys are trained to choose their words wisely, which allows them to protect clients from accidental admissions.

The George Huguely trial may end up being an easy conviction because the defendant didn't need this bit of advice.

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