Mother of four was knifed to death in street by ex-friend

A WOMAN was yesterday found guilty of killing a mother-of-four by stabbing her to death just yards from her home.

At the High Court in Glasgow 25-year-old Charlene Wilson was convicted of the culpable homicide of Gail Russell.

A jury cleared her of murdering the 26-year-old, at Small Crescent, Blantyre, on 12 June, last year.

The court heard that Wilson armed herself with a knife before heading, with co-accused Thomas Gibson and Aaron Black, to the home Gail shared with her boyfriend Andy Carruthers.

The three had gone to the house to confront Mr Carruthers. However, the court heard Ms Russell died in the street after Wilson stabbed her through the chest.

Neighbours in Small Crescent told how they saw Wilson pull a knife from her waistband and then stab Ms Russell, who was unarmed.

She managed to chase after Wilson for a few yards before collapsing in the street.

A pathologist said that the stab wound was only a centimetre away from Gail's heart.

It sliced though a blood vessel and she bled to death. In evidence, Wilson said she lashed out with a knife because she thought she was going to be attacked. She claimed she had not meant to stab Gail. Wilson said Ms Russell was a friend of hers, although they were not speaking at the time. She told the jury that Gibson and Black wanted to confront Ms Russell's boyfriend, Mr Carruthers, because of a row with him.

She had gone with the men because she "wanted to show off", the court heard.

Wilson said they went to the door of Ms Russell's house and the door was opened and then slammed shut.

She said: "I thought that was it. I was a I bit annoyed so I threw a toy pram."

Wilson said that seconds later Ms Russell, her boyfriend Mr Carruthers and his sister Gillian Carruthers came running from the side of the house.

She added: "Andy Carruthers had a knife, Gillian Carruthers flung a bottle at me which smashed against a lamp post.

"Gail Russell had a bottle which she flung and she was making gestures at her back as if she'd got a weapon.

"I was terrified, so I pulled out my knife and swung it towards her. I never meant to hurt her she was my pal … I just meant to keep her away from me."

Giving evidence, Mr Carruthers denied that he had any weapon that night.

Advocate depute John Scullion, defending, said Wilson had five previous convictions at summary level and has never served a custodial sentence.Defence QC Ian Duguid said: "My client was diagnosed with a bipolar condition in 2008 and it may be useful to get a report from a clinical psychologist."

Judge Lord Brailsford deferred sentence on Wilson until next month and ordered a background report and a psychological report on her.

Co-accused Gibson, 29, from Blantyre, and Black, 22, from Motherwell, who admitted a breach of the peace in Small Crescent by brandishing a knife and a sword, will be sentenced at the same time as Wilson.