A WOMAN who killed her friend during a drunken argument was sentenced at the High Court in Perth yesterday to five years’ imprisonment.

Sentencing Margaret Binnie Anderson, Lord Wheatly said he had taken into account her genuine remorse over the death of her friend and her early acceptance of her involvement.

The court heard that had 37-year-old Nickola Booth sought medical attention for her injuries she would not have died.

Anderson (38), a prisoner at Cornton Vale, Stirling, admitted that on May 6 at a house in Ashley Terrace, Alloa, she assaulted Nickola Booth and repeatedly struck her on the body with a knife so she was so severely injured that she died that day, or the following day, and she killed her.

Advocate depute Alan Mackenzie said Anderson was single, unemployed and had drink and drug problems.

She had visited the victim, and after drinking together an argument had turned into a scuffle.

According to a witness, the pair appeared to make up before Anderson went to wash blood from her nose.

She returned holding a knife and stabbed her friend twice in the back and once in the stomach before leaving.

On May 7 the victim’s boy friend went to her house in Ashley Terrace and found the woman lying dead.

A post mortem examination revealed she had died of blood loss and blood poisoning and had she sought medical help she would have been saved.

When questioned by police Anderson said, “I didn’t mean to kill her. She was my friend. I wish she was alive.”

Donald Finlay, QC, who appeared for Anderson, said it was a “desperately sad and tragic matter” for two women whose life revolved around alcohol and drugs.

His client’s recollection of events was patchy and when she left her friend she did not realise serious injury had been caused, Mr Finlay said.

Sentencing Anderson, Lord Wheatly said although he took into account all the factors, he had to remember that a life had been lost. He backdated the sentence to May 10.