The man who struck and killed a Sterlington police officer, David Elahi with his car in 2016 was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. 46-year-old Tracy Govan was found guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injury in February. Govan’s Attorney, Louis Scott, says it’s a shocking sentence considering his client’s clean record and the fact that the crime was an accident.
"I think it was extremely excessive, and I've been trying to figure out what was it that caused the judge to impose a sentence of that nature", said Scott.
Elahi was standing behind the fog line conducting a traffic stop when Govan’s vehicle crossed over the marker and struck three officers. Prosecutors say Govan was intoxicated, because two hours later he blew a .062 blood alcohol level, but Scott says thats not above the legal limit.
Scott says it’s a gross over sentencing of his client, considering the sentences handed out for similar crimes in Judge Carl Sharp’s courtroom.
"There was a young man who had mistakenly shot his best friend in the head and he was sentenced to less than five years".
District Attorney Steve Tew praised the sentence, saying “We hope the family of the officer can now find a way to heal from this horrific tragedy.”
