Gareth Pursehouse, the individual convicted of murdering Dr. Amie Harwick, former fiancée of actor and comedian Drew Carey, has been sentenced to life in prison. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation after a trial in September. Prosecutors asserted that in February 2020, he broke into Harwick’s residence, waited for her return, and then attacked her, ultimately throwing her off a third-story balcony. Pursehouse was arrested following Harwick’s death, and surveillance video played a crucial role in identifying him as the primary suspect.
The motive for the crime was rooted in Pursehouse’s inability to move on from their previous relationship, which had ended years earlier. Interestingly, Harwick had reportedly expressed concerns to friends and confidantes about Pursehouse shortly before her death.
During the court proceedings, Pursehouse’s defense acknowledged his illegal entry into Harwick’s residence that night but argued that he did not intend to kill her. They contended that Harwick might have climbed over the balcony herself and fallen on her own, emphasizing the prosecution’s failure to conclusively prove that Pursehouse was responsible for throwing her off.
On Wednesday, December 6, Pursehouse received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
