He should have gotten life. Just because he was drunk does not mitigate what he did. No one poured alcohol down his throat. Our justice system needs to stop treating intoxication as a mitigating factor in crimes. If a person willfully gets drunk and then commits a crime there is no difference than if the person had been sober. The entire crime still started with the willful act of the perpetrator. If you are going to get so drunk that you are no longer in control of your actions that is your problem, no one forced you to drink that much. The same should apply to drunk drivers that kill people. It should be treated the same as any other manslaughter charge. Just because someone is so stupid that they drink to the point where they lose control of their actions does not mean that their actions should in any way be excused.

But JSinSD he only killed someone!! You act like he robbed a bank or something.

I agree...he should get life.....they will love his cute butt in prison.......

What I find just as disturbing is that her family is making some lawyer rich by suing others over the death. I detest sue-happy lawyers. It is incredibly sad that she has died, but having an insurance company pay a lawyer millions of dollars will not help them or bring her back. My deepest sympathy goes to her family. My utter disgust goes to the blood sucking lawyers encouraging them to sue.

I don't understand how anyone can get less than life in prison for killing someone, I mean you take someone's life and then jail should take your life.... seems as close to eye-for-an-eye as you can get without giving everyone the death penalty. And he does NOT look like the type who is going to do well in prison! And I can't agree more on the alcohol thing, same thing with drugs, I don't see in any way how that would make any situation LESS serious!

On another note, why are the parents suing the school though? He had an altercation with another lacrosse player one time, what is the school supposed to do about that and how would it have stopped their daughter from dating this guy down the road? Although I'm sure if your child dies, $29 million would allow you to stop working, that would have been nice when my brother died I could barely function at work for weeks so I can't imagine a child. I hope they at least manage some sort of successful suit againt this guy but really, what are they going to be able to get from him? Almost seems like a lost point to me, after all those legal fees I'm sure he has nothing and he's going to prison anyway so its not like he's going to get a chance to hit it big.... I guess I just don't understand the concept of sueing in situations like this. Doesn't seem like there is anything to be gained.

I really don't know how these judges sleep at night. This young girl's life is only worth 23 years in prison?

I'm quite suprised they gave him only 23 years instead of life or death penalty.. So when he gets out at the age of 47 he better find a good hiding spot!

The jury recommended 26 years. The judge (in Virginia at least) cannot increase the sentence.

He'll be eligible for parole in less than 10. That's the real tragedy in this mess.

Maybe he'll get put in with the other sodomites and not make it out of prison.

A sad affair all around.

One word, "Money"

Money Talks & everything elses WALKS. He's such a pretty boy, he'll get it up the a** everyday..or they'll just gang rape him ....Poor little pretty rich boy!

McGreer, there are times when the only way to right a wrong is through a lawsuit. We don't have enough background to know if this is one of those instances. Judging by the expression on that punk's face, he has not gotten the message nor taken responsibility for his actions.

Just a guess : Ms. Love was the first person in his life to tell him 'no'.

I can't believe the defense asked for 14 years. Such a gruesome and violent murder deserves life in prison.

Gee, do I have it when the rich kids step so far over the line that they actually go to prison. He'll be on a team inside, but they won't be playing lacrosse. No more dermatology appoints, no more $200 haircuts, but an active sex life---willing or not.

I firmly believe in prison reform, separating violent and non-violent prisoners, based on conviction. He's in the violent category. Also, let those people out of prison for weed. It's a monumental waste of my tax dollars, but it's prudent to see this young man do his entire sentence.

If that were my daughter, I would sue the family, the guy, the school, and anyone else I could for absolutely everything they had. I would not rest until they were completely ruined, financially, emotionally, careers, and social standing, and that includes the school. I would be at every parole hearing and do everything I could to keep him in prison. While nothing will bring back their daughter, 23 years for murder is not a just sentence. Unfortunately, when he gets out, we will all be less safe. Someone who could do what he did has no place in society. I wish her family the best of luck in their pursuit.

The jury recommended 25 years for the murder and another year for theft. So I am assuming that the judge took off the three years for time served. I know here in Canada it is always 25 years or 25 years to life. Sounds silly to have the two but it appears to me they have given him what a first degree murder would bring him here. Second degree would have been a lot lower. It is too bad this spoiled little rich kid wasnt stopped years ago when it was first reported of his drinking and violence. It is sad that in retrospect her parents have to be thinking that. Prayers go out to her family. This has no doubt been a nightmare couple of years.

Me to, the school knew he was a drunk and was violent and they failed to protect the students, mostly her, from him. If the students knew what he was the school had to have so sue thier butts off I say. Schools fail to get rid of these kinds of students then act so sad when they murder half a dozen people. Get rid of trouble makers no matter how much money their parents have. He was probably going to school to be a lawyer or something. What a stand up guy! Sue the school. Sadly his parents can't do anything as he is of legal age. Heck, look at the face on him in the photo; he's defiant to the end and shows no remorse what so ever. Maybe he already met Bubba.

Yes, the jury limited the judge - limited everything else. Hmmm? Juries can be strange things and do strange things (just like attorneys, politicians, murderers and many others).

The jury must have been arguing among themselves; must have had a hard figuring out this case. Hmmm?

He essentially got one year in jail for each year she was alive and one year for the theft. In my book, he got off easy...

And the odds that he will get out within a decade? Very good. Justice was not served here at all.

.....they will love his cute butt in prison.......

The kid is from money. Protection can be bought inside prison.

It proves once again that COLOR talks and...you know the rest. This goes beyond the fact that his family had money. Imagine this headline, in Virginia or anywhere else for that matter: COLLEGE BASKETBALL STANDOUT BEATS GIRLFRIEND TO DEATH IN DRUNKEN RAGE.

What is the first thing to come to mind for a lot of people (especially in the South)? Well, what did you expect from a young black man that has been given everything!

I can guarantee that he would be facing a death penalty charge and, knowing the "justice system" throughout the South, he would have gotten it. And he should, but it should also have been the proper sentence in this case. At the very least, nothing short of life without parole.

There are a lot of black men sitting in prison facing a lot more time than this for holding up a convenience store. AND RIGHTFULLY SO. Black, white, brown, yellow, green. If you rise to the level of a VIOLENT crime, you shouldn't be allowed back into a civilized society. These people (violent offenders of ANY color) lack the fundamental impulse control that most of the rest of us have.

Are there times people I would like to see some a**hole hurt, have his a** kicked and the like? Yes. Would I act on that impulse? No, because the very thought of even spending ONE DAY in jail scares the hell out of me (and most others).

If you lack the ability to think things through when the ultimate conclusion is the potential injury or death of another, when the worst happens no one should feel sorry for you. And, NO, you do not deserve a second chance.

He was convicted of 2nd-degree murder not 1st-degree murder, so he could not receive the death penalty. Also, Virginia does NOT have a parole system --- however, he can receive up to a maximum of 15% off of his sentence for "good behavior."

Virginia does NOT have a parole system

Sort of, inmates convicted before 1995 are still eligible for parole.

http://www.vadoc.state.va.us/vpb/

Oh, and the Judge has mandatory sentencing guidelines. The jury recommended 26 years, if I am correct, the judge cannot exceed that number but he can decrease it and deduct time served, but still has to impose at least the minimum allowed sentence.

Robert.....sad but very very true.

JS in SDI know it's only an internet board but I stilll feel that your "One size fits alll" justice system is inadequate - it presupposes, for one thing, that you know what you're talking about in this case .(obviously false.)

So Mr Huguely V commits burglary, theft and a violent MURDER while supposedly intoxicated and he only gets 23 yrs? This isn't a real story, it is a prank, right? Have I lost my mind or has Virginia suddenly gone soft on violent criminals? How does this crime not result in at least 40 years behind bars? Whenever multiple crimes include murder, I thought the penalties were increased. I guess when you are the "thuuurd, fourth or fifth" the judicial system changes.

Mr. Huguely was charged with both 1st-degree murder and 2nd-degree murder. Apparently the jury was not convinced that there was (sufficient) premeditation, and so they convicted him of the latter crime.

The insurance company will not pay out on a claim for an illegal act, unless the perp's family took out offspring murder insurance, which I understand is very hard to get.

BTW, I notice that quite a few commenters are upset because he killed a "lovely young woman," or words to that effect. I wonder if they would be so outraged if he had killed an ugly old man or woman.

This goes beyond the fact that his family had money.

No it doesn't. It's VA, so his whiteness definitely helped. But in the end, daddy's green is the only color that really mattered.

Kids from Chevy Chase, MD are FAR TOO WEALTHY to get life sentences. Same with their friends in Potomac, MD. Liberty and Justice for all who can afford it.

I watched this trial and read all I could about it, Yeardley Love showed her temper more than once in public. She was on medication and it didnt show up in here blood tests. Women need to understand regardless of what you see on tv and in the movies, when you puch slap kick a man your not going to fare very well. The FBI did the most extensive study ever done on domestic violence, you know what they found after thousands of man hours? Women not men throw the 1st punch 78% of the time. Why is the media covering up this study? Because it doesnt fit in with their feminist agenda.

@ Getmadstaymad: During their coverage of the investigation of this case, the local media, probably "The Daily Progress," interviewed a police officer in Lexington, VA who said that when she tried to arrest George Huguely for his behavior at a party at Washington & Lee University, he became the most belligerent young man that she had ever encountered. Did your extensive reading include this?

Morton,

Insurance companies will pay sometimes after 2 years. Insurance is tricky, but there are time limits to limitations on pay outs.

SteveH,

Thank you. I see all the time people on these boards show so much sadness because a cute girl, kid, etc, gets hurt, then they make fun of ugly people being killed in other stories. Just sick.

This seems like 2nd degree murder, thats why its 23 years. Get a grip people.

Well you wanna hear how soft on crime Canada is. Yes I agree with the no death penalty - allthough it could be re-looked at now that we have DNA - but here if you murder someone first degree you get 25 years and can be out in 7 years. 7 whole years. And if you are charged with second degree murder you get in around 10 - 15 years and can be out in 4 or 5 years and if you have been in jail a long time before the trial you get time served. That is why people prefer to come here if they can to do the crime - like the two guys who killed the one guys whole family came up here to commit the crime. It didnt turn out so well for them but that is a rarity.

I know I'm swimmming aginst the popular "Hand 'em HIgh" mentality but soft punishment is not what encourages people to killl each other. I would never killl someone even if there were a thousand dolllar bounty on humans.

Let's see..... a poor (financially) black 18-year old rapes a 12-year old and gets 99 years in prison. (Texas gang rape story)

A rich (financially) white 22-year old KILLS another 22-year old, and he gets 23 prison.

That's 76 years LESS for a murder than a rape.

The 99 year sentence is totally appropriate. It's justice and I have no problem with it at all. But it does need to be said that a poor black kid who RAPES could easily get 76 MORE years in prison than a rich white kid that KILLS.

And comparing VA to TX is like comparing apples to apples.

Harold,

I know you want to see racism because that is what fuels you, but this was 2nd degree murder. These carry smaller sentences than first which would have gotten him life or killed.

Yep...Michaels' in the wrong thread.... oops :)

The law suit is absurd. Money grubbing people. Glad that the a hole is doing time though.

Yeah Mike's a moron that can't read the comment around him and recognize he hit the wrong link. Probably drunk.

Who cares - to even concider a motive is to give credence to this thug.

The sentence is too light. The angiush that he caused is forever in the hearts of her family and friends.

Relax Francis I was just curious what the story was I wasn't suggesting anything about his sentence.

They had a long and tumultuous relationship. He had been violent with her and others in the past which was known to some of the students at UVa. He was also a heavy drinker which was common knowledge at the school and probably to his parents as well. His father played golf with him the day he killed Yeardly and George was blind drunk by end of the day. Apparently Yeardly had also been drinking that same day and they argued. She went home to bed, he broke in and shook her and smashed her head against the wall. He then left her there to die.

Interesting. Thanks Carolyn.

You're welcome. We live in VA and my son goes to school at UVa. He was in his first year when this happened. It was a very sobering and incredibly sad experience for all the students.

Try he was a stupid angry drunk

He was indeed.

new fish on the tier.mmmm mmmmmmmm

I wish that were true qubytes and r battle, but murderers are not kept in gen population. They are kept seperate from other prisioners and have limited contact with one another.

Life could not have been the sentence. He was convicted of 2nd degree murder, mandatory sentencing guideline in Virginia is 5-40 years and the jury recommended 26.

Life nor death could not have been the sentence. He was convicted of 2nd degree murder, mandatory sentencing guideline in Virginia is 5-40 years and the jury recommended 26.

Besides, I'd rather he suffer than get the easy way out. In VA, the average death row inmate is executed within only 7.7 years, the national average is 14 years. Come to think of it, Virginia has executed more people than any other state, even Texas.

Virginia, You are incorrect regarding executions. Texas is by far the most execution happy state in the country. They even get the right guy sometimes...

Her father died of cancer when she was in high school. A tragedy for her mother and sister.

The trial has been over for some time. This was the final sentencing done after the sentencing hearing.

You are absolutely right. Also, there is no way in the world the school could have anticipated the actions of this poor excuse for a man.

The poor girl dated the fool and most likely knew his background as well as and probably more than any school official. We live in a sue happy country, where people are trying to get money for nothing, from whomever can afford to pay, regardless of their responcibility of the act committed.

Its hard to believe that the lacrosse coach had no knowledge of his alcohol and violence problems. Lacrosse is a big deal at UVa and other schools and he was a big deal player. Maybe no one wanted to upset the applecart and rein him in.

Anybody who is or was Active Duty in the Military gives up their rights to sue the Government for ANY reason while they are active duty or receiving retirement pay. We faced this when my mother was killed by malpractice of a Navy Dr. My dad couldn't sue the Navy for her death because he was retired AF. My sister and I COULD have sued (since Mom was a dependent, not Active Duty), and my sister was all for it but I spoke to my dad and asked him what HE wanted; since suing would not bring Mom back. I then told my sister that I would NOT cooperate in a law suit because it would mean putting Dad on the stand to testify about what the Navy hospital did and I was NOT going to hurt him like that.

Cat-1200657, you are a very loving and loyal son. God bless you and your family. My condolences to you all on the loss of your mother.

Thank you, Nunnya. My mother passed away in May of 2002. It was VERY sudden and I was very angry at the Corpsman who decided that since their CAT scan was not operational that they were just going to give her a blood thinner to dissolve a clot that he THOUGHT she had in her leg, which ended up dissolving a clot in a blood vessel tear she had in her back ... causing her to bleed out internally. She was 55 and my nearly 6 year old son and nearly 3 year old niece will never know her. I decided that taking care of our Dad was more important than any money we could receive from a lawsuit and it would hurt ALL of us too much... but it would wound Dad too deeply and he didn't need that on top of losing the woman he loved and protected for 35 1/2 years. NO amount of money could compensate us for her loss and it just seemed that the emotional damage from a law suit would have greatly outweighed any potential monetary award.

But you have my gender wrong ... The only son my parents had died in May of 1999 from accidental causes at the age of 32. I just happen to be the oldest living child of my parents and have stepped up to be the "Matriarch" of our side of the blended family we now have (my step-mom is the Matriarch of the entire blended family and I love her very much, I am the oldest living child on both sides of the blended family as well).

Unfortunately he will not serve anywhere near the sentence that was given. He will def be out in less than 15 years and probably fewer than 10.

Well duh they obviously already have money. He goes to University of Virginia, plays Lacrosse, and there are 5 of him.

Sandie,

Obviously, White lives are far, far more valuable than black lives. (no sarcasm)

This is not about skin color and these two murders are not of the same category.This guy beat his ex girlfriend to death after breaking into her room while he was supposedly intoxicated.The Trayvon case is about a young teenage thug with no supervision and an older racist ego maniac on steroids,who should have went inside his home and called police

You're an idiot.

I should have known better, but I thought I was finally going to get through one of these threads without some dumba$$ playing the race card. Pity.

Sandie, A big difference here - she was sound asleep not bothering anyone. Trayvon "got into it"- possibly verbally threatened him, a fight ensued and then he was shot due to the alledged threat. Huge difference in events.

Please note my comments below. Suing the state for 29 million is absolutely obscene.

I should have known better, but I thought I was finally going to get through one of these threads without some lame dumba$$ playing the race card. Pity!

Interesting rationalizations. Simply proves the point of my earlier post.

Hey Sandie, do you know what an apple and an orange is?

Hanging is too good for this guy. 23 years is nothing.

Here's to the "orientation" he will receive. I hope it lasts for 23 years, an every day conjugal visit.

No apparently only a black death is important. White kid kills white girl and no one gives a hoot just like if a black kills a black no one cares but oh let a hispanic/white kill a black and it's on like donkey kong for years. It's ok that 6 black kids beat a white guy almost to death cause they were bored but that's not racism; racism only occurs when blacks have something happen to them. Three black kids poured gas on a white child and set him on fire but that wasn't a hate crime either hu? I'm so sick of this race card being played every time blacks don't get their way about anything. They have black only music awards, black only beauty pagents, black scholorships, black entertainment awards, black entertainment tv where all black shows are fine but let a white or other race try that and they scream racism. Racism is a two way street people. I'm American Indian so don't even bother to tell me I don't know what racism is. My people still live on reservations in poverty blacks wouldn't tolerate. The only difference is we found out how to get our money back, casinos buddy. This POS killed a young woman with her whole life in front of her and blacks gotta make this about them. Go figure.

Ann. I have read through some of these comments and yours is absolutely the best I've read in a while. I have said the same thing about blacks whining about the same issues you are talking about. If anyone has been taken advantage of it is the American Indian. Everyone else can shut up or go somewhere where they will be happy. No hate here, not racism here. Just tired of seeing everything become racial.

@ Sandie... I am guessing you are a white liberal. Usually the first and sometimes the only type of person who would pull a race card into the thread from a story like this. I bet even blacks are not all up in arms over this story. But you are. White liberal aren't you honey?

Oh God here we go again. This case has absolutely nothing at all to do with race or politics but it seems to me that people there have to bring that into every case. This was a case that unfortunately is pretty common with young people in that they make a bad choice in boyfriends or are attracted to bad boy guys and cant seem to break it off with them. He on the other hand would have no part of her saying no to him, got drunk, broke down her door while she was sleeping and killed her. Oh such a courageous guy - kinda like shooting someone in the back - killing someone while they are asleep. Race need not be involved or politics be involved - this is about a rich kid who no doubt has gotten everything he ever wanted having no respect for life or love for that matter and in his mind *boy did he show her*. Makes me sick to my stomach and for all those upset cause of lawsuits I can imagine her family needs to recoup a lot of money in legal funds as this must have drained them. His family is worth a lot so no need for them to sue anyone - just pay up to her family for their son's really gross killing. Who can leave someone to die.

Trayvon Martin's family also has legal expenses.

There is a huge difference between having someone break into your room and kill you, and beating someone's head into the ground and getting shot in self defense.

Apple meets orange Sandie.

His hair is fine. There will be plenty of good ole boys that will look out for him. Defense lies? I watched this trial and read all I could about it, Yeardley Love showed her temper more than once in public. She was on medication and it didnt show up in here blood tests. Women need to understand regardless of what you see on tv and in the movies, when you puch slap kick a man your not going to fare very well. The FBI did the most extensive study ever done on domestic violence, you know what they found after thousands of man hours? Women not men throw the 1st punch 78% of the time. Why is the media covering up this study? Because it doesnt fit in with their feminist agenda.

His parents sound like Scott Petersons's parents. Guess thats why they have one thing in common. their sons are murderers. Great parenting!