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February 18, 2010

Man to be sentenced in triple death

By BOB GIBBINS Press Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — A Kansas City, Kan., man convicted last month on three counts of first-degree manslaughter is scheduled to be in a Cherokee County courtroom this morning.

Anthony Joseph Whitney II, 31, will appear before District Judge Darrell Shepherd for formal sentencing.

The jury that found Whitney guilty has recommended three 50-year sentences for his involvement in a Oct. 27, 2008, crash that killed Rudy Gourd, 52; Eli Gourd, 20; and Russell Gourd, 29.

Whitney’s court-appointed attorney, Crystal Jackson, has filed a motion for a new trial. Shepherd ordered completion of pre-sentence investigation at the conclusion of the trial.

Several members of the Gourd family have already submitted victim impact statements to the court concerning the sentencing.

“My heart has been shattered into a million pieces,” wrote Emily Gourd, Rudy’s daughter and Russell’s and Eli’s sister. “I don’t want to hear an apology.”

If he is sentenced today, Whitney will have to serve 85 percent of any incarceration portion of his sentence before he would be eligible for parole or any kind of release.

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Poll

What do you plan to do over the Memorial Day weekend?

Go to Lake Tenkiller or Lake Fort Gibson.
Go to the Illinois River.
Attend ceremonies to honor veterans.
Spend time at home with family and/or friends.
Go out of town with family and/or friends.
A combination of the above.
None of the above.
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