George Huguely Breaks Down During Murder Trial

George Huguely doubled over, put his hands over his face and cried in court on Friday as he watched a videotape of himself being grilled by police and being told his ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love was dead.

"I have to tell you something," Det. Lisa Reeves tells Huguely after he had answered questions about the night's events. "She's dead. You killed her."

"She's dead? How is she dead?" Huguely asked repeatedly. "Please, pease tell me she is not dead."

"George, I wish I could, but I can't do that. She's 22 year old and the life's gone out of her," Reeves said.

A panic-stricken Huguely then repeats over and over that he doesn't believe Love is dead, that he wants to see her and that he didn't murder her.

Huguely screamed and cried in the video and he broke down again in court today as he watched his statement on a monitor.

Huguely was leaning over his knees with his head in his hands, crying. Loud sobs could be heard coming from Love's family, who could not see the video but could hear the audio.

On the tape, Huguely is heard telling Reeves, "I didnt do that to her. I wouldn't have done anything to her. I refuse to believe she is dead."

He said the two were wrestling on the floor, but that he never struck her.

Before finding out Love was dead, Huguely told police in his video-taped statement that when he went to see his former girlfriend the night of her death he told her to "chill out" and "shook her a little."

"We were just going to talk," Huguely told the officer in the video. "It was not at all a good conversation."

Investigators called Huguely to the police station for an interrogation hours after the discovery of of his University of Virginia classmate's lifeless body in her bedroom.

"I'm not here to do anything. I'm here to talk to you about this past week," Huguely said he told Love.

Huguely told police that he went to talk to Love because she was "freaked out" about something that had occurred between the two. It is unclear what he was referring to, but there were several volatile encounters between the couple in the weeks leading up to Love's death. Huguely had been caught with Love in a chokehold and Love had attacked Huguely with her purse in an apparent fit of jealousy.

Huguely said that while he was trying to talk to Love, she repeatedly banged her own head against a wall.

"Her back was against the wall talking and she started getting all depressive," he said. "I told her to chill out and shook her a little."

"She kept saying, 'No, no, no stop it,'" Huguely said. "It was not a good conversation."

The police officer asked Huguely if he choked her or punched her in the neck.

"I may have grabbed her a bit by the neck, but I never strangled her," Huguely said. "We were wrestling. I pushed her onto the bed and left."

Reeves testified right before the video was played. She said that Huguely cooperated with police when asked to come to the station and signed a document stating that he understood his Miranda Rights.

"I noticed bruising on the knuckles and a fresh cut on his arm," Reeves testified. "He seems like a reasonable suspect for this crime."

"I felt he was not free to leave," Reeves said.

The court has been highly sensitive to privacy throughout the trial, showing graphic photos of Love's lifeless body only to jurors and not to the media or the public present in the courtroom. The video was also positioned so that the jury could watch, but the press and the public in the courtroom could not see it.

Huguely, 24, is charged with first degree murder as well as five other charges in the death of Love.

Follow ABC News' Cleopatra Andreadis on Twitter for the latest on the trial.

Love, 22, was a star lacrosse player at the school and a senior just weeks away from graduation. Huguely was also a lacrosse player for the school's nationally ranked team.

Prosecutors allege that an enraged Huguely allegedly kicked through the door of Love's bedroom the night she died and shook her, banging her head against the wall, before leaving her bleeding. A bloody Love was later found face-down on her bed by a roommate. Her face was covered in scrapes and bruises, according to a police warrant, and her right eye was swollen shut.

The defense has claimed that Love's death was caused by a fatal combination of Adderall and alcohol that could have stopped her heart and that jurors should consider Huguely's role in her death as involuntary manslaughter at the most.

The first prosecution witness on the stand today was Dr. Renu Virmani, a renowned cardiovascular pathologist. Virmani said she was obtained by the medical examiner to see if she could "find related cause of death in [Love's] heart."

"I came to the conclusion that nothing was wrong with her heart that caused her death," Virmani testified.

When asked if a heart problem could have led to Love's brain hemorrhaging, Virmani said, "I have seen at least 300 hearts a year for over 30 years and that's not possible."

Virmani was the 26th witness for the prosecution in a trial that has been filled with drama and intimate revelations about Huguely and Love's relationship.

On Thursday, the man whose on-and-off relationship with Love allegedly infuriated Huguely V testified that he once witnessed Huguely trapping a hysterical Love in a violent choke hold.

Michael Burns, a University of North Carolina lacrosse player, told jurors that in February 2010, he heard cries of "Help me, help me," coming from Love's bedroom and went in to find Huguely throttling Love.

"I saw George's hands around Yeardley's neck," Burns said. Prosecutor Warner "Dave" Chapman had Burns stand up in court and demonstrate what he saw.

Huguely released her and turned to the wall as Love ran out of the room. Burns said that she was crying hysterically and said to him, "Thank you so much. I couldn't breathe."

Burns told the court that although he and Love were not dating, they had "hooked up" a few times over the course of their college years, including the night he walked in on the choke hold. The last time they had been together was April 25, 2010. Love was found dead on May 3.

The relationship between Burns and Love angered Huguely who allegedly said in an e-mail to Love days before her death, "When I found out about Mike Burns, I should have killed you."

George Huguely Murder Trial Nears End of First Week

On Thursday, Dr. Danny Mistry, the primary care physician for UVA sports teams, told the court that Love was an athlete in excellent shape.

When the doctor was asked if there was any medical reason Love should have passed away on May 3, 2010, he said, "No...She was in very good shape," Mistry said.

Earlier in the trial, jurors saw photos of Love's lifeless body, drawing sobs from her family in the courtroom while Huguely kept his head down.

Charlottesville Police Officer K.W. Blackwell was one of the first responders to arrive at Love's room and find her on the floor. The officer was responding to a 911 call for a possible alcohol overdose.

"I realized it was nowhere near the report that came in," Blackwell said.

"Her right eye was swollen shut?she had a black eye," Blackwell told the court. "There was dried blood around her mouth and nose."

Also Read
 
  • PlainJaneInCA  •  3 months ago
    Victimizers always become fast victims once they're found out. People who are physically violent towards children, or women, or anyone who they feel they can dominate? They always cry real hard when they are confronted with their actions. Then, they always blame the victim.
    • Howard 3 months ago
      They always blame the victim and I never get that...
    • Tony 3 months ago
      Yup, and of course they never did it, they just, "Shook them a little." -_-
    • P-chan 3 months ago
      So true! My wife's coworker was beaten by her boyfriend and when he was in jail, he cried like a little PUSSYcat! But what's worse is that she took him back!
  • Don  •  Mission, Kansas  •  3 months ago
    Oh give me a break, do you want to know why they cry? They cry because they are facing the consequences of what they did and since they are killers they are not man enough to face them. Thats why killers cry. Mean while they will blame everyone else including the victim.
    • crissy 3 months ago
      Well said!
    • Arty 3 months ago
      don while that is absolutely true, one cannot discount the fact that even killers experience remorse. even though his actions are deplorable and he should answer for what he did, i believe he did not want to kill this girl. it seems like he was unable to control his rage and ended up taking things too far. this is not to say that his intended assault is validated but one should take into consideration that while he wanted to cause bodily harm to this poor girl, it seems that her untimely demise was not part of his malicious plan.
    • michael 3 months ago
      sad story but he should get lfe in prison or death
  • VBGirl  •  3 months ago
    Obviously, these two were not good together......they should have each done themselves a favor and moved on and found other people to date, hook up with or what ever........If you are in a relationship and you hit each other, choke each other, stalk each other, shake each other, slap each other, have fits of jealousy, etc. for God's sake.....end it now. THey were both nice looking kids and there are plenty of fish in the sea......find someone else. If it's like this when you are DATING.....it ISN"T going to get any better......SHEEEEESH!!!!
    • JefferyG 3 months ago
      Agreed. Someone should have knocked some sense into them ...
    • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
      I slap my hoe all da time, I show dat #$%$ who her daddy is, and she likes it, when she fight back, I just stick her.
    • Anya J 3 months ago
      some people don't know any other way to live and some women are so desperate to just have a "man" to make mommy/daddy/society happy, they will put up with crap like this because they don't want to be labeled a failure or be alone
  • mjm  •  Fort Worth, Texas  •  3 months ago
    This, and so many other crimes being committed by young people, is due to a complete lack of respect and value for human life and dignity. We are slowly but surely losing our moral compass. There is a serious decline in our society for the sanctity of life. Where are the parents, and what have they taught their offspring? God help us.
    • Souza of the North Wind 3 months ago
      I truly do fear the world of tomorrow, when this generation gets in control of things.
    • Natalie Compton 3 months ago
      How do you know he did it? People can be falsely accused. That is why their is "due process". Yes, our court system is not perfect. Their are people who does crime that get away with it. But their are also people that honestly pay for a crime they did not do. Watch the movie "Hurricane" based on a true story about a man that was put on death row for a murder he did not do. Its a good movie.
  • Shell  •  3 months ago
    He was crying loudly because he knows there is no way out of this. Gotta keep your anger in check.. BEFORE something like this happens.. I feel he is going to prison for a VERY long time... Two young lives wasted... What a shame....
    • Jeezus 3 months ago
      apparently he still has internet access
  • Abbii  •  Montgomery, Alabama  •  3 months ago
    There is a victim here and a family that has lost a daughter far to soon. Can we take a moment an focus on that? Whether he killed her or not is up to the jury however it would seem he does have the custom of putting his hands on the poor girl.

    may heart goes out to the family
  • ss  •  Schenectady, New York  •  3 months ago
    He's not crying for Yeardley and for the horrific crme he committed. He's crying because all he can think of is spending the rest of his years in prison and meeting Mr. Ben Dover!!
  • ้ป’ไบบๅŒ–ๅญฆ่€…  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
    #$%$ no parent should have to bury their kid over something like this. Just tragic.
  • madsv  •  3 months ago
    oh man poor girl may she rip
  • Wendy S  •  Columbia, Missouri  •  3 months ago
    This is just so sad. Nobody wins here, do they? Girls, the first time he hits you, or gets in your face, MUST BE THE LAST!
  • punisher  •  3 months ago
    He looks young and tender. Maybe we could all chip in and buy him some soap on a rope. He'll need it where he's going.
  • godzencharge  •  3 months ago
    This death was entirely unnecesary and tragic. Young women need to open their eyes. Jealousy & possessiveness might seem cute or endearing in it's early stages, but this is where it can lead. Watch out for those red flags. You do not want to pursue a longterm relationship with a person like this.
  • Mike  •  3 months ago
    Why is this punk entitled to more privacy than anyone else? Let's get this trial underway and let the system work and find this momma's boy guilty.
  • DICKENS  •  3 months ago
    I'm old enough to know that tears mean nothing. For all we know he's crying for himself and what's about to happen to his sorry butt.
  • Yin-Yang  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
    Welcome to reality and consequences.
  • Arty  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
    dont want to seem insensitive but from a legal stand point this is a slam dunk. there is clear motive, history of abuse, witnesses to said abuse, bruises on his hands and he admitted to putting his hands on her on the day in question. condolences to the love family.
  • GO Flossie - Floyd  •  Carlisle, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
    He's crying for himself, not her.

    He gets to wake up everyday and sweet Miss Love does not.
  • Jamaican Props  •  3 months ago
    men in abusive relationships are COWARDS!
  • Heather  •  3 months ago
    Witnesses have seen him choking her in the past. He admitted to "possibly" injuring her neck "wrestling." When he came in for questioning he had bruised knuckles and scrapes on his hands and arms. I believe in innocent until proven guilty but come on people, what more can be said? Seems pretty clear to me. The idea that adderall and alcohol killed her, or even worse that she banged her head on the wall herself fatally is the most ridiculous defense yet. I could believe a drug overdose if it weren't for the beating she obviously went through...
  • Scuba Shark  •  3 months ago
    Was he crying because he regretted losing control and killing her? Yeah, probably. Even if you really meant it for a few days and wanted to, death is permanent and once that hatred runs its course you realize how crazy and stupid you were to kill someone you cared about. However, his tears obviously do not restore her life, and despite regretting it this should not reduce his sentence. Feeling bad afterwards does not change a thing and only demonstrates how out of control or deranged you have to be to kill despite knowing how wrong it is.