William Gourdine, whose one-year sentence for killing a Byrd High School student in a drunken-driving accident led a state appeals court to declare it too lenient, was resentenced today to four years in prison. The sentence was imposed by Caddo District Judge Leon Emanuel, who has been under fire for the original sentence he imposed last year. Gourdine killed Amanda Laurenson in April 2004 after his speeding SUV -- estimated by prosecutors at traveling twice the posted 35 mph limit -- rounded a curve and broadsided the 17-year-old's car as she pulled onto Crabapple Drive in Shreveport. Laurenson was on the cell phone with her mother when she died. Gourdine, whose blood-alcohol level was calculated by prosecution witnesses at nearly twice the legal limit, was convicted of vehicular homicide.Emanuel today suspended another six years of the sentence and placed Gourdine, 44, on six years probation. Gourdine, who has two prior drunken-driving arrests, could have to serve the entire sentence if he commits a crime while on probation.Gourdine, who has spent seven months in jail, showed no reaction as he was sentenced this afternoon. Laurenson's parents sat quietly in the courtroom. "He has no remorse about this whole situation," said Amanda Laurenson's father, Bill, said outside court. "He doesn't feel he's done anything wrong. He still feels Amanda pulled out in front of him. I mean, give me a break. This is ridiculous." In originally sentencing Gourdine, Emanuel said he felt Laurenson was partially at fault -- but the appeals court said all blame lies with Gourdine.Defense attorney Ray Kethley believes the original sentence was the appropriate one."This judge did a reasonable job of looking at this particular case in the sentence he imposed the first time," Kethley said. "I don't think the information that came out should have made an increase in the sentence."Today's sentencing came after the state appeals court in Shreveport -- calling the original sentence "extremely lenient" -- ordered the judge to review a presentence report that looked at Gourdine's prior record, his life's history and input from the victim's family. Emanuel had not ordered a presentence report before the original sentence.
