Victim's father speaks out on Nestande

AUSTIN (KXAN) - For the first time, the father of Courtney Griffin, the woman killed by a hit-and-run driver the end of May, is speaking out about Gabrielle Nestande, the suspect in the case who now faces a maximum of five years in jail.

"The fact is, Nestande was out drinking the night of the 26th. She ran over and killed my daughter, early morning between 12:30 and 1 o'clock on Friday morning," said Bart Griffin. "Then she left the scene. She left my daughter to die. And because of that, she has basically escaped any other charges that may have been filed against her."

"A person can not be incentivized for leaving the scene of an accident and leaving someone to die," he said.

Nestande, who's also a Texas State Capitol staffer, was indicted Thursday on a charge of failing to stop and render aid.

Nestande, 24, has been free on bond since she was arrested in the death of Griffin, 30, who died on May 27 while walking home to her Tarrytown apartment. A court hearing for Nestande on Friday morning was postponed until Oct. 21.

Nestande, a one-time aide to state Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, was spared any additional charges in the case.

"It's as simple as that. The law, 'failure to render aid,' has got to be changed. And we intend, our family intends, to do something about that," Griffin said.

The Griffin family hopes to bring the law to the Texas Legislature, and work with lawmakers to get harsher penalties added.

"We just wish more could have happened," Griffin said. "I guess I feel like they're doing as much as they can right now."

But Bart Griffin focuses his thoughts mainly on Courtney, who had a unique sense of humor and was always fun-spirited.

"She was the life of the party. Loved to have a good time. She loved kids, loved animals, loved her family. We miss her, very much," he said. "It's just left a huge hole in our hearts."

Nestande is scheduled to appear in court for a designation hearing on Oct 21. The Griffin family plans to be at the hearing.