Trial date may be set in Nestande case

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A trial date could finally be set in the case of former legislative staffer Gabrielle Nestande, charged in the deadly hit-and-run of Courtney Griffin.

Nearly a year from when the deadly wreck happened in Tarrytown, Nestande is expected to attend a court hearing Friday.

Nestande, 25, worked as an aide to a state representative last year when it happened. She is charged with failure to stop and render aid.

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 parked nearby, with telltale signs consistent with hitting something.

Nestande was in court March 2 in connection with the May 28 hit-and-run death of Griffin, whose birthday would have been three days prior.

Nestande walked out of the courtroom that day with attorneys, looked down and cried, hand over her brow.

Nestande appeared in court briefly on Jan. 20, during which her attorneys updated the judge on how far they've come in getting ready for trial.

Friends and family of Griffin on that day filled up three rows of seats in the courtroom as well. Nestande was only up at the bench for a couple of minutes.

"I could care less if she's crying or not," said Bart Griffin, Courtney Griffin's father. "I mean, if this is hard for her, so be it. She killed my daughter. That's the fact of it. And that she's upset about it, I have no feelings towards that at all."

Prosecutors told the judge they are still trying to track down a witness to talk to, and also Nestande's sister, who goes to college out of state.

Friends and family of Griffin have been showing up for every court setting. On Jan. 20, they gathered around afterwards as the prosecutor explained what happened in the courtroom and what's next.

"It's very emotional to come here and be a part of this," Bart Griffin added. "It's very slow for us, it's just not moving as fast as we want. We obviously believe more charges need to be brought about. We're pushing for that and so that's a frustrating thing for us. But this is part of the process."

No trial date has been set.

"We just want as many charges, the most charges, to be brought against her. And let a jury decide what's right or wrong," Bart Griffin said.