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11 months ago
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A California man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after killing a prominent sex therapist who was once engaged to Drew Carey.
Gareth Pursehouse, 45, was hit with the stark sentence Wednesday - the maximum amount allowed after executions were halted by an official moratorium from Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this year.
Just over two months ago, the disgraced comic - and accused stalker - found himself convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of 38-year-old Amie Harwick, which happened more than three years ago at her Hollywood Hills home.
There, Pursehouse - who was accused of stalking ex-girlfriend Harwick for ten years following a bad breakup - waited for hours before strangling the former Playboy model, before tossing her body off the third-floor balcony for police to find.
He donned a dark-colored face mask and Carey-esque glasses in court Wednesday, as a judge told him he'll never see the streets again.
Gareth Pursehouse donned a dark-colored face mask and Carey-esque glasses in court Wednesday as a judge told him he'll never see the streets again, three years after killing 38-year-old ex Amie Harwick at her Hollywood Hills home
The Price is Right host Drew Carey, 65, dated Harwick for two years before the pair split in 2018 - eight years after she broke it off with Pursehouse, who was also a comic
The sentence also stipulates that Pursehouse will never be granted parole during his incarceration, which will commence immediately at a California state prison.
It was issued after several members of the victims' family spoke before the court on how Pursehouse's actions have affected them indelibly.
As they chided the con - who dated Harwick for a year-and-half before allegedly harassing her for more than a decade - he hung his head solemnly, seemingly without expression.
Among those to speak were Tom Harwick, the slain marriage and sex counselor's father - and Penny Harwick, the woman's mother. Others included relatives and friends affected by the murder, which prosecutors proved was premeditated.
Harwick's father began: 'My name is Tom Harwick, and I am the forever grieving father of my dearly departed daughter Amie.
'I will be reading the following words from a paper out of fear I will forget, but you may be asssured that these words are being recited from deep within my heart.'
He proceeded to thank the presiding judge, prosecutors, and jury for bringing justice to his family following his daughter's killing, as well as the Los Angeles emergency officials who originally responded to the crime scene on the night of February 15, 2020, after neighbors reported hearing screams from her apartment.
'I am totally grateful for the services you've rendered to me an my family during this horrible ordeal,' he continued, adding, 'justice to Amie has been served.'
Penny, meanwhile, lamented the time lost with her daughter, noting how it's been 'almost four years' since she was killed.
The sentence was issued after members of Harwick's family told the court how Pursehouse's actions have affected them. Among those to speak were Tom Harwick seen here, the slain sex counselor's father, who said in an emotional address: 'justice to Amie has been served'
Penny, meanwhile, lamented the time lost with her daughter, noting how it's been 'almost four years' since she was killed
More to follow...
English (US)