CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — No one contests that George Huguely V went to Yeardley Love's apartment the evening of May 2, 2010.
The University of Virginia lacrosse player from Chevy Chase had an altercation with Love, his former girlfriend, and the 22-year-old's roommates found her beaten to death in her bed.
The week before, Huguely sent Love an email about her relationship with another man that said "I should have killed you," prosecutor Dave Chapman said in his opening statement.
"The next time George Huguely saw her alone, he killed her," Chapman said.
The prosecution say Love died from blunt force trauma to the head and suffered brain injuries when she was beaten by Huguely, who is now 24.
But Huguely only went to Love's apartment that night to talk to her and had no idea she was killed during their fight, defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence said in his opening statement.
"They had somewhat of a discussion and somewhat of an encounter," he said. Huguely "tossed her onto the bed, and then he left," Lawrence said.
Lawrence said Love's death was "unintended and unexpected" and Huguely was "unaware that she was injured in a significant way" until police officers told him she had died.
A jury of seven men and seven women was selected earlier Wednesday to hear the case. Two of the jurors will serve as alternates.
