February 15, 2012

The prosecution is expected to rest its case Wednesday in the George Huguely murder trial. Huguely faces six charges, including first degree murder, in the death of ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love, but the defense will try to change those charges.

The prosecution has called more than 30 witnesses to the stand since the trial began on Feb. 6, including several detectives who interviewed Huguely in the hours after Love's body was found and forensic analysts who examined the blood stains in Love's apartment. Medical experts also testified about the trauma Love suffered to her brain.

Before Huguely's defense team begins calling witnesses, legal experts say his attorneys will ask the judge to lower the charges. They could argue the prosecution hasn't presented enough evidence to convict Huguely of first degree murder.

"The defense will make a motion to dismiss the first-degree murder part of the case, of course the Commonwealth will oppose, and the judge will rule," said Scott Goodman, a Charlottesville defense lawyer who is unaffiliated with this case.

If Huguely were convicted of a lesser charge, for example involuntary manslaughter, he would face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.

"Then the defense will put on its case, beginning with possibly some of the friends of Huguely who were with him on the night in question," Goodman explained. "The defense has eluded in their [opening statement] that Huguely did not seem as if in any way, shape or form he had just been involved in a murder."

The defendant's father, George Huguely Sr., is also expected to testify on his son's behalf.