Nestande pleads not guilty in deadly hit-and-run

Gabrielle Nestande pleaded not guilty Friday in the deadly hit-and-run of Courtney Griffin last year.

Nestande, a former administrative aide to Republican Rep. Wayne Christian in the Texas House, is accused of striking 30-year-old Griffin with her black BMW during the early morning hours of May 27, 2011 in Austin’s Tarrytown neighborhood. Griffin was walking to her home off Exposition Boulevard at the time.

Police say the 25-year-old California native then fled the scene to a friend’s house nearby. Nestande was taken into custody the following morning when she went to work on the House floor at the State Capitol.

A homeowner discovered Griffin’s body in her driveway shortly after 5 a.m. Police say alcohol may be a factor in the crash.

Nestande is charged with failure to stop and render aid, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Jury selection begins Sept. 17.

Gallery images by Develon Douglas/YNN