Nestande trial date set for September

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A trial date has been set for Sept. 17 in the May 2011 hit-and-run crash near Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood that left a 30-year-old woman dead.

A judge on Monday set the date in the case against former legislative staffer Gabrielle Nestande, who is charged with failure to stop and render aid in the wreck that killed Courtney Griffin, 30. Nestande did not attend Monday's hearing.

Griffin, who worked as a nanny and volunteered for Austin Pets Alive! , was walking home late at night in the Tarrytown neighborhood when she was killed. Her body was discovered after dawn.

Police linked Nestande to the death when her damaged vehicle was seen parked nearby after the May 27, 2011, incident, with telltale signs consistent with hitting something. Police received an anonymous tip about where the vehicle was parked.

Police were called after a neighbor who was taking out trash at 5:15 a.m. found the Griffin's body near the shoulder of Exposition Boulevard, near the intersection with Enfield Road . Austin Police Department Victim Services officials talked to the neighbor.

It was unclear if Griffin was running or walking, though she was not dressed like she was exercising. Police said she had identification on her.

Police said Griffin’s shoes were found near the roadway and her body was thrown through a large bush before landing in the driveway. In the early stages of the investigation police said there were no witnesses and no identifying information on the vehicle that struck Griffin.

went to Nestande’s workplace to question her about the damage and the accident. According to the arrest affidavit Nestande admitted she was the only driver of the vehicle “being involved in an accident, being scared and not knowing what to do.”