Jury to deliberate in U. Va. murder trial

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in the murder trial of University of Virginia student George Huguely urged the jury to decide the man's fate based on his taped statement to police.

Prosecutors have pointed to the videotape as evidence of Huguely's mood swings, which they said show he was a controlling and abusive boyfriend, capable of killing his girlfriend, Yeardley Love, on May 3, 2010, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Huguely and Yeardley were lacrosse players at the University of Virginia.

Huguely's attorneys have said the videotape is proof Huguely is not guilty of first-degree, premeditated murder because he acts surprised to hear of Yeardley's death.

The video shows Huguely crying over and over, "She's not dead!" "There's no way she's dead!" upon learning the news.

Defense attorneys have agreed Huguely played a role in Yeardley's death but said at most he should be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. They said he went to her apartment only to talk to her, but when they began to argue, he shook her. Huguely said she was alive when he left.

Jurors will begin deliberations Wednesday, the Post said. Huguely pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, felony murder, robbery, burglary, entering a house with intent to commit a felony and grand larceny.