LOS ANGELES—Former adult industry photographer Gareth Pursehouse was sentenced today by a California judge to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was found guilty in the slaying and burglary of ex-girlfriend Amie Harwick, a renowned Hollywood sex therapist.
The judge additionally ordered that Pursehouse pay $7,500 toward Harwick's funeral expenses and cover restitution payments for her parents' travel, lodging and food expenses associated with the extent of the court proceedings during the trial.
Court TV reported that Harwick's parents intended to travel to the sentencing hearing on December 6.
Harwick and Pursehouse dated for a period of time. Harwick broke off the relationship with him for being emotionally and physically abusive. She also took out a restraining order against him.
Both ran into each other at the 2020 edition of the XBIZ Awards in January of that year.
Shortly after the event, Harwick started receiving texts from Pursehouse saying that he found her phone number and information on the internet. The encounter at the XBIZ Awards and the texts prompted Harwick to invest in new locks and security for her flat in the Hollywood Hills.
On February 15, 2020, Pursehouse broke into Harwick’s home with what his defense attorney said was an intention to “talk.”
Prosecutors said that Pursehouse intended to harm Harwick by injecting her with a lethal dose of nicotine in a syringe he had on him. He proceeded to throw her off her balcony, resulting in her death, explained the prosecutor in the case.
The prosecutors for the Los Angeles District Attorney called Pursehouse “obsessed” with Harwick, despite not interacting for years after the breakup and the restraining order was issued.
Harwick, who authored The New Sex Bible for Women (2014), was also engaged in health and wellness efforts in the adult industry, having recently begun work with Pineapple Support.
She was briefly engaged to comedian Drew Carey, who was subpoenaed by the defense to potentially testify during the trial.
