Huguely Defense Reprimanded for Improperly Contacting Witness

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—Judge Edward L. Hogshire will allow testimony in the murder trial of George Huguely from a medical witness who received inappropriate email communication involving defense counsel.

However, the witness can not answer questions related to the matters detailed in the emails such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and reperfusion injury.

Cardiopulmonary resusciation, commonly referred to as CPR, is an emergency technique usually used to aid someone who is not breathing or is having a heart attack, according to the Mayo Clinic. Reperfusion injury is caused by blood returning to tissue after it has been deprived of oxygen.

These topics were previously discussed during trial by other medical experts.

Dr. Ronald H. Uscinski, a neurosurgeon, received information about the testimonies of the other medical witness in three different emails. The witnesses and defense attorney Rhonda Quagliana partipated in these exchanges.

Prosecutor Dave Chapman argued that this violated Virginia's "rule of witness" by bringing into question whether or not Uscinski would shape his testimony based on what he had learned in those emails.

"It is beyond belief that we're having to discuss this at this trial," Chapman said.

Uscinski said he didn't really think too much about whether it was right or wrong to participate in the emails, but that he did not prepare for his appearance more because of them. But he added that he had general knowledge of the topics through his medical training.

Defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence acknowledged his team's impropriety but said the testimony was very relevant to their case, and Huguely should not have to pay for their mistake.

"We recognize we created this," Lawrence said.

Hogshire said he was "incredibly disappointed" in the defense's actions but agreed that the testimony is important.

"It was amazingly thoughtless," he said. But not "calculated."

The trial resumed Friday morning after delays surrounding Quagliana's illness.

Huguely is charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love of Cockeysville.