UVA Lacrosse Death: George Huguely Will Not Face Death Penalty in Yeardley Love Killing, Prosecutors Say

WASHINGTON (CBS) Former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely will not face the death penalty for the slaying of his former girlfriend Yeardley Love, say prosecutors.

PICTURES: Yeardley Love Murdered; George Huguely Charged

The 23-year-old from Chevy Chase, Md. is being charged with first-degree murder for the beating death of his 22-year-old fellow classmate and lacrosse player, but will most likely avoid trial by agreeing to a plea deal, reports The Washington Examiner.

Charlottesville police spokesman Gary Pleasants has been communicating with lead detective Lisa T. Reeves and prosecutor Dave Chapman since police found Love's body in the early morning hours of May 3, and says capital punishment is not being considered at the moment.

Huguely was arrested shortly after officers found Love unresponsive, her body bruised and battered with her right eye swollen shut, and lying face-down in her Charlottesville apartment, says The Examiner.

According to court documents, Huguely and Love had gotten into a violent fight that evening, and he told police he shook Love while her head struck the wall.

Before fleeing the scene, Huguely admitted to police that he saw blood dripping from Love's nose. He pushed her back down on the bed, stole her computer which contained e-mails exchanged between the two, and fled, according to documents in the case.

Even though Huguely claims the incident was an accident, he has been charged with first-degree murder.

"The charges are not going to change," Pleasants told The Examiner.

Huguely has been in solitary confinement in a Charlottesville jail cell for the past seven months while awaiting his Jan. 21st hearing.

Complete Coverage of the Yeardley Love Murder on Crimesider.