CHARLOTTESVILLE, Vir. (CNN) -- A former University of Virginia lacrosse player will spend the next 23 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend.
George Huguely was convicted of second-degree murder in February for the beating death of Yeardley Love. Prosecutors say Huguely killed Love in a jealous rage.
The defense argued the death was accidental and were not happy with the judge's decision to honor the jury's sentence recommendation. Rhonda Quagliana says, "We fundamentally disagree that the conviction in this case for second-degree murder was at all appropriate and we basically disagree with the sentence that was imposed."
Huguely apologized to the Love family before his sentence was read, saying he hoped that they could find peace.
The judge also gave Huguely one year for grand larceny to be served at the same time as his murder sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.