AUSTIN -- Gabrielle Nestande was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide, and not guilty of failure to stop and render aid in the May 2011 hit-and-run death of 30-year-old Courtney Griffin.
After 20 hours of deliberation by a jury made up of nine men and three women, the jury handed down the verdict around 3 p.m. Thursday.
Nestande, 25, was charged with intoxication manslaughter, manslaughter, and failure to stop and render aid. She faced up to 50 years in prison on those charges.
Criminally negligent homicide usually carries a sentence of 180 days to two years behind bars. However, because the jury ruled that Nestande used her car as a deadly weapon, the punishment range is up to 10 years in state jail. The jury can grant her probation.
Family members of Griffin say this is bittersweet, and there are no winners.
Nestande's father left court with a serious expression and no comment for reporters.
With tears in her eyes, Nestande became emotional while Griffin's father, Bart, showed photographs and shared memories of his daughter.
The jury will now deliberate how much time, if any, Nestande will spend in jail.
