<p>The lacrosse teams will play in the tournament. I think that’s a good decision. I’m sure that it will be a controversial one, but I think giving the teammates something to do right now is all to the good. </p>
<p>This is just so sad, all the way around. I know it’s extremely unlikely, but wouldn’t it be nice if the press stayed away from the UVa commencement and refrained from sticking microphones into every senior’s face asking if (s)he knew either of those involved in this tragedy?</p>
<p>Even before today’s reports and statements came out, my gut feeling was that this guy did not intend to murder this young woman, but that whatever he did to her (horrible enough) resulted in her dying. And it is all so shocking and tragic. </p>
<p>There is grief all around but so much for the loss of this student and the pain suffered by those who love her, and especially her mother. Nobody should have to suffer in this way due to what someone else did.</p>
<p>So very sad, how I wish this young man had listened to his fathers sage advice.
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<p>Yesterday a local station in VA included a report that marks on her neck made police think it was strangulation. A student friend of the victim reported Huguely had tried to strangle her when they first broke up, a month or more ago. </p>
<p>IF the autopsy supports these reports, one can see how his defense attorney will be able to argue “accidental”, as false as that most likely is.</p>
<p>While it may not have been premeditated, she was obviously attacked and killed. Now her poor family has to listen to stories of how it was an accident. That is tragic.</p>
<p>If this is accurate, it sure doesn’t seem like an accident to me–he had to kick in her bedroom door to get to her. Again, if this is true, the cops obviously had probable cause. Read the affidavits linked to the story–not just the story itself. </p>
<p>[Affidavit:</a> Lacrosse player admitted to physical confrontation | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/affidavit_lacrosse_player_admitted_to_physical_confrontation_with_slain_wom/55738/]Affidavit:”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/affidavit_lacrosse_player_admitted_to_physical_confrontation_with_slain_wom/55738/)</p>
<p>That poor roommate! Thank heaven someone was with her when she made the discovery.</p>
<p>He is charged with first degree murder. Does that mean it was premeditated? It can’t be planned and an accident.</p>
<p>Yes, it means premeditated. However, under Virginia law–at least as it is available on the internet, I’m not familiar with Va law–the premeditation can occur a “moment” before. Long term planning isn’t necessary.</p>
<p>I have no clue the legal definitions. But the use of the word “accidental” has to be unnerving. I can believe that the guy didn’t mean to kill her. But when an assault is of such a nature, a person could die of it. The assault itself is not an accident. It is not like she died by accident. She died as a result of an assault, it appears. Even if the intention is NOT to kill, the result of the assault is not as if the girl had an accident. The outcome of the assault resulted in death, even if death was not the intention. The assault alone is quite horrific. The circumstances even add to the pain for those who loved her to know what she endured with someone whom at one time supposedly cared for her. It must be so painful and unbelievable grief.</p>
<p>[Affidavit:</a> Lacrosse player admitted to physical confrontation | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/affidavit_lacrosse_player_admitted_to_physical_confrontation_with_slain_wom/55738/]Affidavit:”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/crime/article/affidavit_lacrosse_player_admitted_to_physical_confrontation_with_slain_wom/55738/)</p>
<p>^scary and violent.</p>
<p>sorry, I didn’t realize the link was previously posted in this thread</p>
<p>And, read the affidavit. He stole her computer before leaving. The cops got a search warrant for his computer. My hunch? He sent her an email that’s incriminating. if he threatened to kill her, that is probably sufficient to constitute premeditation. There’s got to be a reason he took her computer and the cops wanted to search his.</p>
<p>She must have been terrified. This is a horrible story.</p>
<p>An awful story, and deeply upsetting to read.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more, Donna.</p>
<p>That poor girl!</p>
<p>I didn’t see where the linked story mentioned the theft of her computer.</p>
<p>This story just breaks my hear for both families. My S1 said that his fellow 4th years are very shaken and having a hard time concentrating on their exams right now. My heart goes out to the entire UVA community.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I need to sign off of this story…it makes me ill to think of both sets of parents having to learn all of this.</p>
<p>futurenyustudent,</p>
<p>You don’t need to know the cause of death right away to know that a murder likely took place. Consider this hypothetical (and somewhat dramatic) situation:</p>
<p>Police are called to a residence for an unknown trouble call. When they arrive, they find someone decapitated on the floor and a bloody samurai sword lying on the ground a few feet away. Was the person killed by the decapitation, or were they killed beforehand (poisoned, strangled, beated, etc) and the decapitation took place after the fact as the killer tried to dispose of the body? Cause of death isn’t immediately known, but obviously a crime took place.</p>
<p>Now, this is purely a hypothetical example, but it is useful at demonstrating that police don’t need to know the cause of death right away to suspect a murder. Same thing occurs when people use arson to try to conceal crime scenes.</p>
<p>Now, as far as this situation is concerned, it will be interesting to see if any further information will come out. Truly a tragic time for the UVa community, though.</p>
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<p>The affidavit states that he admitted taking her computer and disposing of it. He told the police its location and the police recovered it.</p>
<p>I feel sad for those whose lives are touched by this …</p>
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<p>Absolutely. He “accidently” kicked a hole in the door to get to her and “accidently” slammed her head into the wall repeatedly. Total bs. </p>
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<p>This is the first good thing I’ve read about this case. </p>
<p>I could not feel worse for her parents but I feel nothing for his. Years ago I would have but my years in family court as a victim advocate lead me to conclude that most of the time, the apple has not rotted far from the tree. I could not write even the more mild things I’ve heard families of the accused say about and to the victims family, even in, or I should say especailly, in cases where there was a witness or the accused confessed without getting banned for foul language. I’ve seen parents put up every penny they have to defend a son they “know” was not even at teh crime scene and then turn on a dime once the DNA comes back to the position that the victim was asking for it.</p>
<p>I can count on one hand the number of families who showed any concern for the victim or remorse for what their child to another human being. If that is the case there, I feel some sorrow for them but their child is still alive and his last moments on this Earth were not spent in terror. My sympathy is has become limited.</p>
<p>What on earth, “it was an accident” It wasn’t an accident that you kicked the door in, it wasn’t an accident that you hit,strangled and smashed her head against the door. Where is the accident? This animal is surprised to find out all that can result in death?</p>