This morning, Charlottesville Police Lieutenant Gary Pleasants reiterated a comment he recently made to the Washington Examiner: If convicted of murder in the death of fellow student and ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love, former UVA lacrosse player George Huguely will not face the death penalty.
"We have him charged with first degree murder and we will not be seeking to raise it to capital as this is not a capital case," wrote Pleasants in an e-mail. "There are very specific criteria for a capital murder charge and those criteria are not present in this case."
The Code of Virginia defines first degree murder in opposition to capital murder. The former, a Class Two felony, is punishable by a maximum of life in prison; a conviction for the latter, a Class One felony, may result in a death sentence. (Differences in sentences are outlined here.)
