Charlottesville , Virginia ( CNN ) -- Jury selection in the trial of a University of Virginia lacrosse player who is accused of fatally beating his ex-girlfriend got off to a slow start Monday . Many who were questioned were dismissed because they said they already knew too much about the case , were emotionally invested and did not believe they could be fair and impartial jurors . George Huguely faces charges including first-degree murder in the May 2010 death of Yeardley Love , a 22-year-old senior who was also a lacrosse player . Early Monday , he appeared in court and pleaded not guilty . Love 's mother wiped away tears as the charges were read . Police were initially called to Love 's off-campus Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported `` a possible alcohol overdose , '' said Police Chief Tim Longo at the time . `` It was quickly apparent to them this young lady was the victim of something far worse , '' Longo said . A medical examiner ruled that blunt force trauma killed Love , and authorities allege Huguely caused it during an altercation . `` George Huguely admitted on May 3 , 2010 , that 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 , '' Charlottesville Police Detective Lisa Reeves wrote in a sworn statement used to obtain a search warrant in the case . Love had `` a large bruise on the right side of her face which appears to have been caused by blunt force trauma , '' according to the document . She was found face-down in a pool of blood . Love and Huguely played on their school 's highly ranked lacrosse teams . Huguely admitted to kicking open the door to Love 's bedroom after he found her apartment door unlocked , according to the detective 's affidavit . He also admitted he took her computer from her apartment , Reeves wrote . It was later found by police after Huguely told them where he disposed of it , she said . Huguely 's lawyers contend Love 's death was a `` tragic '' accident . `` George Huguely only learned that Yeardley Love had died when he was told that by a detective , '' attorney Rhonda Quagliana told reporters soon after Huguely 's arrest . Ahead of Monday 's trial , a crush of reporters descended on the college town . `` It 's attention to a trial by the national media that we have n't seen here before , '' university spokesman Ric Barrick told CNN affiliate WJZ . The trial is expected to last two weeks .
NEW : George Huguely pleads not guilty . Suspect and victim were members of the college 's highly ranked lacrosse teams . The prosecution contends Huguely fatally injured Yeardley Love during a fight . The defense calls the death a `` tragic '' accident .