<p>“Most states (maybe all) have a speed trial statute. A year for a preliminary hearing ain’t too speedy.”</p>
<p>I don’t know what happened in this particular case, but there are strategic reasons why a defense attorney may want to slow the process down. The STATE has no right to a speedy trial – that’s the defendant’s right. So if his attorney thinks he’s better off with a year to prepare for the first step, a court will often go along with that.</p>
<p>What happened in this case is that the defendant is from a VERY wealthy Maryland family that could hire the best legal team available, IMO.</p>
<p>I would think the defense would waive right to a speedy trial to get away from the immediate furor. The downside is that he didn’t get bail so he sits in jail. Of course, his sentence could reflect time served so that might inure to his benefit down the road. If the perpetrator here looked different and his parents had a slimmer bank account, we would absolutely be looking at a completely different story. This is Virginia, so another defendant could be sitting on death right now. Being drunk and/or on drugs is hardly a defense for all. It may work for a wealthy white kid.</p>
<p>Actually, in this case, sitting in jail is a benefit. I think Huguely will be convicted of something, even if it is involuntary manslaughter. He will end up in prison. Prison is FAR worse than the C’ville jail, I suspect. </p>
<p>I think it will be easier for Huguely if he has to get used to being confined and unable to leave for some time before he is thrown into the general prison population. I don’t see Huguely being eligible for one of the minimum security prisons.</p>
<p>I also suspect that Huguely will be more willing to accept a plea bargain the longer he spends in jail. If you’ve never been jailed or imprisoned, I think you’re likely to take the 1 in 50 or whatever chance you’ll be found not guilty than you are if you have. If you have, then I think you start to think, I can’t spend the rest of my life like this. Even if I get 30 years, I’d have SOME life left…especially if you’re a guy like Huguely who will probably inherit some money and thus wouldn’t leave prison penniless.</p>
<p>Plus, in fairness to Huguely, I think he probably really was stunned when things turned out this way. He probably needs time to be able to think clearly and his attorneys would prefer to deal with a client who has come to grips with reality.</p>
<p>correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t they always incluce the “time served” in the sentence, as well? So if he gets manslaughter, part of his time will have been served in jail rather than in prison?</p>
<p>This is so incredibly tragic and such a waste. That young women’s parents have got to want the book thrown at that guy. As a mother of daughters, guys like this are my worst nightmare.</p>
<p>This thread started before I joined CC. I got sucked in and read all 25 pages due to so many thoughtful posts and the insider info! A GREAT read! </p>
<p>For those who want ‘just the facts,’ go to this link for a list (from Day 1) of all the local news articles:</p>
<p>[News</a> - Lacrosse Homicide | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/list/news-lacrosse-homicide/]News”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/list/news-lacrosse-homicide/)</p>
<p>As of 1/10, George Huguely has been charged with: felony murder, robbery, burglary, statutory burglary, grand larceny and first-degree murder.</p>
<p>Now if you want to read all the CC poster’s thoughts about the limited media coverage of college sports ‘club’ mentality, LAX, closing ranks, code of silence, details of Huguely’s past violence against Miss Love and others, family mega-money, etc., you’ll have start at the beginning. Plus many have graciously have posted links to additional media articles.</p>
<p>ETA: Per the above articles, Virginia has finally changed their laws to include protection orders for boy/girlfriends. No clue if UVA has changed THEIR internal rules.</p>
<p>I tried to do a little research on sentencing guidelines for involuntary manslaughter in Virginia and found little other than DUI cases in which someone is killed. I’m very concerned that he will be successful with involuntary manslaughter and serve only a very short time in jail. </p>
<p>I think jail is the best place for him too. However, if he were out, I’m sure he would have been sent for alcohol/drug rehab to further bolster his argument that he lacked intent because of intoxication and as evidence at sentencing that he is turning his life around. I’m not sure what services are available to him where he is now.</p>
<p>Virginia is not known for light sentences. I think they hold out for 2nd degree murder. 30 years. He still gets some time out of ail if he lives.</p>
<p>[Jury</a> finds teen guilty of first-degree murder in Main Street slaying | WSLS 10](<a href=“http://www2.wsls.com/news/2011/mar/10/21/jury-begins-deliberating-lynchburg-murder-trial-ar-896386/]Jury”>http://www2.wsls.com/news/2011/mar/10/21/jury-begins-deliberating-lynchburg-murder-trial-ar-896386/)</p>
<p>Sorry for the dumb question but isn’t involuntary manslaughter a charge that would be brought if someone’s reckless behavior results in someone else’s death? For instance a drunk driver who hits a pedestrian. He had absolutely no intent but should not have driven drunk.</p>
<p>How could George H. be tried for that if he assaulted her? And then left her “sleeping”? It’s hard for me to believe that any jury would buy that brand of bullsheet.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>We’ll see. If it was irrelevant it probably wouldn’t have been reported.</p>
<p>Personally I would be happy if this guy got the death penalty, but I have a feeling he will only get a few years.</p>
<p>*How could George H. be tried for that if he assaulted her? And then left her “sleeping”? *</p>
<p>Yeah…people always fall asleep when they’re being physically abused. :rolleyes: Did he tuck her in as well and wish her sweet dreams? OMG</p>
<p>He wouldn’t have stolen her computer if he thought she was sleeping.</p>
<p>I would love to be there when the defense say that one, it would be hard to contain the laughter…and absolute outrage.</p>
<p>*‘not quite the perfect child’.
*</p>
<p>WTH…what does that mean? Is there a perfect child anywhere? No…so what relevance is that?</p>
<p>and, from the sounds of it, she was as wonderful as a person can be.</p>
<p>It is the usual case of “blame the victim”. If the victim had been a man and the perpetrator a female, there would be less scutiny of every substance that he had put in his body. When women are victimized there is a very special effort to find character flaws that can help “explain” why a man had to hurt her. It is not even very subtle. If this victim had been a Nun on her way to canonization, somehow the defense would try to find ways that she brought the murder on herself.</p>
<p>“I think Huguely will be convicted of something, even if it is involuntary manslaughter. He will end up in prison.”</p>
<p>I agree with this – he will have an excellent defense, but this is also the kind of case (beautiful, promising, educated young white woman murdered in her bed) where prosecutors are going to give it everything they’ve got. Jurors will love her. Were I the defense, I’d push hard for a plea.</p>
<p>I think putting “out there” that the defense will argue the combo of alcohol and meds contributed to her death is posturing for a favorable plea deal. If nothing else, it sends a message to the family that the defense will do everything possible to put the victim on trial. No family wants to go through that.</p>
<p>An unarmed, family friend of mine was murdered in a drive-by shooting last year in Virginia. The case has yet to go to trial but at every stage the victim’s family is kept in the loop by the Commonwealth Attorney (DA) through meetings/phone calls with the DA and through victim’s services.</p>
<p>The family has been advised of all their evidence against the perpetrator as well as how the defense will try to persuade the jury. (The defense has nothing except victim character assignation and a prior month argument between the two men.) It’s a rock solid case but the family has been asked at each stage if they want to proceed to trial (and their chances of success/probable outcome) or offer a plea.</p>
<p>The Commonwealth seems quite concerned about “No family wants to go through that.” So, I would assume that before any plea would be offered that Miss Love’s mother would be consulted and asked if she wants to offer a plea or proceed.</p>
<p>Though they will be fully prepped for ‘what’s coming’, it will be excruciatingly painful for Miss Love’s family to re-live all the horrid details and media coverage. I greatly admire their courage.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The older you get, the less this will seem true. And that goes double for the obverse. It all depends on the reporter and editor.</p>
<p>So sad I love lacrosse and I can’t believe this happened</p>
<p>Okay, folks it seems that this case will not come to trial until February 2012 largely due to scheduling difficulties. That’s if the grand jury indicts him, as I understand it. </p>
<p>[George</a> Huguely trial set for 2012 | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/apr/18/george-huguely-trial-set-2012-ar-980221/]George”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/apr/18/george-huguely-trial-set-2012-ar-980221/)</p>
<p>It’s been almost a year (May 3) since the lacrosse murder occurred. April’s Washingtonian magazine has a retrospective entitled [“Love</a> and Death in Charlottesville.”](<a href=“http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/19152.html][i]"Love”>George Huguely and Yeardley Love: Love, Death, and Lacrosse - Washingtonian) Much of it is a rehash, but there are some updates.</p>