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Gabrielle Nestande Takes The Stand In Hit And Run Manslaughter Trial

Updated: Tuesday, February 19 2013, 06:12 PM CST
The defendant in the fatal hit and run in Tarrytown in 2011 took the stand today and immediately broke down in tears.

Gabrielle Nestande is charged with manslaughter and intoxication manslaughter in the death of Courtney Griffin. A homeowner found Griffin's body along Exposition Boulevard in May 2011.

On the day of accident, Nestande testified that she went to Cloak Room, a bar near the Texas Capitol. She said she had a few beers and "very impulsive" shot, went to her boyfriend's house and then drive home.

Nestande testified as she drove on Exposition she thought a rock hit her windshield.

"I was so scared, my heart was beating out of my chest and the whole windshield was shattered," she testified.

Nestande said she drove back to boyfriend's house after the accident.  The next morning she texted the picture of her car to several friends.

At the end of her testimony, the defense asked Nestande, "Whose fault is it that you're here?" She said, "It's mine."

The prosecution has begun its cross examination.

Nestande was asked if she and her friends usually drink heavily.  Nestande said no.  Then the prosecutor tried to nail down exactly how much Nestande drank that night, down to the sips.

Earlier in the morning, defense witnesses have testified about photos of the accident scene and discussed limited time Nestande had to process that scene as she drove toward it.

Another witness testified that a typical driver would have very low expectation of encountering pedestrian in bike lane at time of crash.  He called Nestande was a distracted driver, and that she was checking alarm on cell phone when accident occurred.

Then a former co-worker of Nestande's took the stand.  Luke Bullock said he talked with her the next day about crash. Nastande said she hit something but gave no indication it was a person, Bullock testified.

Read the latest information on the trial by following @KatherineStolp on Twitter.Gabrielle Nestande Takes The Stand In Hit And Run Manslaughter Trial