Appeals Court Throws Out Gourdine Sentence

A Louisiana appeals court has ordered a new sentence in case of William Gourdine. In February, prosecutors were stunned when a Caddo District Judge sentenced William Gourdine to only one year in prison for causing the crash that killed 17-year-old Amanda Laurenson. "We felt the sentence although it was within the guidelines provided by law that it was too light of a sentence given the facts and circumstances and given the defendants prior criminal history which we could not get the court to consider," said Assistant District Attorney Eddie Brossette. That criminal history includes a DWI conviction in North Carolina and a DWI arrest in South Louisiana, that did not result in a conviction. Judge Leon Emmanuel did not consider this evidence when issuing the sentence. At that time Emmanuel stated that he felt Amanda Laurenson was partially responsible for the crash. The DA`s office has been trying to appeal the sentence ever since. "The court of appeals stated that it was William Gourdine that was a hundred percent at fault in this horrible wreck that occured and cost the life of Amanda Laurenson. she has no fault whatsoever... just was in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Brosette. The Second Circuit Court of appeals is upholding Williams Gourdines vehicular homicide convition. But now the are telling Judge Emmanuel to issue a new sentence taking Gaourdine`s criminal history into account. "We`re cautiously optimisic that there will be a sentence that will be more in line with the crime that was committed here," said Brosette. Prosecutors expect the case to go back to court sometime early next year. Gourdine is free on bond during the appeal process.