Volatile relationship detailed in opening statements of George Huguely murder trial

(CBS/AP) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V and Yeardley Love, the ex-girlfriend he is accused of killing, had fights often and traded angry emails in the months before her death.

Pictures: Yeardley Love Murdered; George Huguely Charged

Prosecutors and defense attorneys described the stormy relationship between Huguely and Love during opening statements Wednesday. Huguely faces murder and other charges in the May 2010 death of Love. She was on the women's lacrosse team.

Prosecutor Dave Chapman says Huguely had a pattern of violence against Love. He says the evidence will show Huguely assaulted her.

Chapman reportedly told jurors Huguely wrote he was upset at Love because she had slept with someone else, reports CBS affiliate WTVR..

During his opening statement, Huguely's lawyer Francis Lawrence told jurors Love did not feel threatened by an email from Huguely in which he wrote he should have killed her, reports WTVR. Lawrence said she showed the email to her friend.

Lawrence reportedly told jurors not to confuse domestic abuse with a turbulent relationship and that Love had hit Huguely in the past. He said Huguely was incapable of plotting to kill Love because he was very drunk the night of her death.

Huguely went to Love's apartment to talk and work things out, not to kill her, Lawrence says

Court documents state the 24-year-old defendant told police he kicked in Love's bedroom door, then shook her during an argument which caused her head to hit a wall several times. The state medical examiner's office said Love died of head trauma. A roommate of Love found her dead facedown on her pillow.

Complete coverage of Yeardley Love on Crimesider