William Gourdine, the man who killed Byrd High School student Amanda Laurenson in a drunk-driving crash three years ago, will learn next month how much more time he'll spend in jail.Gourdine was back before Caddo District Judge Leon Emanuel this morning for a re-sentencing ordered by the state appeals court in Shreveport, which said Emanuel was too lenient in the original one-year sentence he imposed.Emanuel said he felt Laurenson was partially at fault in the accident because she was talking on her cell phone to her mother at the time -- but the appeals court said Gourdine bore all responsibility.During an often-contentious hearing this morning between the judge and Assistant District Attorney Eddie Brossette, Emanuel heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defense before saying he wanted to go over the record again before sentencing Gourdine, who faces up to 20 years in prison. It was clear from Emanuel's questions that he was being guided by the appeal's court ruling against him -- pressing the prosecutor to show proof when he said Gourdine had two prior arrests for drunk driving and domestic violence.Brossette said Gourdine had offered "one excuse after another" about why things happened and never expressed remorse for killing Laurenson. Defense attorney Ray Kethley disputed that, saying "there's not a day goes by that he doesn't regret what happened."Laurenson's parents, who lost their only child, attended the hearing. The delay keeps prolonging their pain, they said."I was expecting to get it done today, and now it's drawn out again for another month," Amanda's father, Bill, said. "Some of the stuff that was said in there, I just wanted to jump up and scream."Gourdine, 44, will be re-sentenced on July 9. He is already in jail serving part of his sentence.Emanuel has been strongly criticized for his original sentence of one year for vehicular homicide. Under that sentence, Gourdine would have gotten out of jail in a few months.The state 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal ordered Emanuel to depart from his normal policy and have a presentence report done on Gourdine. Those reports usually detail a person's criminal history. Gourdine's prior arrest record includes drunk-driving arrests and domestic battery charges. Gourdine was drunk when his speeding SUV rounded a curve and crashed into a car driven by Amanda Laurenson, a 17-year-old Byrd High School student, in April 2004. Laurenson had just pulled onto Crabapple Drive when Gourdine crossed the center line and hit her. Gourdine filed a civil lawsuit against the Laurenson family, blaming their daughter for his injuries. That suit has been dropped. A wrongful death suit filed by the Laurenson family is pending.Gourdine, who had been free on an appeal bond, reported to jail in January to begin serving his sentence.
