CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jailed University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely confessed he kicked down the door of ex-girlfriend Yeardly Love "and her head repeatedly hit the wall" as he shook her, a police affidavit says.

Huguely, 22, a member of the school's top-ranked team, is charged with first-degree murder in the Monday death of Love, 22, who was on the school's women's lacrosse team. A police affidavit posted today on the website of The Hook, a Charlottesville weekly newspaper, said Huguely told Detective Lisa Reeves he and Love "had been in a relationship and that the relationship had ended."

The killer left Love in the bedroom of her 14th Street apartment, face-down on a pillow, with blood pooled around her, the document says. Love's two roommates found her.

"Love had a large bruise on the right side of her face, which appears to have been caused by blunt force trauma," the affidavit says. "Love's right eye was swollen shut and there were bruises and scrapes to her chin."

Huguely had unspecified injuries to his right leg "that are consistent with kicking an object such as a door," the affidavit says. He admitted using the injured leg to kick open the bedroom door, according to the document.

Huguely admitted "he was involved in an altercation with Yeardly Love and that during the course of the altercation he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall," the affidavit says.

Based on the affidavit, police obtained a warrant to search Huguely's nearby apartment for biological fluids, fingerprints, photographs, writings, documents, computers and other items related to Love. It's not clear what resulted from the search.

Huguely told police he had communicated with Love by e-mail and "that he took Love's computer from the residence and disposed of it," according to the affidavit. Huguely told police where he trashed the computer and it was recovered, the document says.

Huguely's lawyer, Francis Lawrence, said today Love's death was accidental.

"Until more information becomes available, it is our hope that no conclusions will be drawn or judgments made about George or his case," Lawrence said Tuesday, reading a statement (PDF) to reporters outside a courthouse. "We are confident that Ms. Love's death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome."

Lawrence said Huguely withdrew from UVa. The lawyer didn't elaborate and said he would have no further comment.

Huguely appeared by videoconference Tuesday at a court hearing, wearing a gray-striped jail uniform. He did not speak during the proceeding between his lawyers and the judge. There was no discussion of bond for him.

Huguely's parents and stepfather were in the courtroom. They left the courthouse through a back entrance without talking to reporters.

Police have released few details in the case. They have said Love and Huguely had been in a relationship and investigators planned to interview fellow players and friends about the nature of the relationship.

Huguely pleaded guilty last year to two charges -- resisting arrest and public swearing and intoxication -- in Rockbridge County, about 55 miles southwest of Charlottesville, according to court records. He paid a $100 fine and about $80 in court costs and was released on supervised probation with a 60-day suspended jail sentence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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