Punch duo attacked woman in alibi row

TWO women took the law into their own hands when they attacked a woman they believed was protecting their friend's alleged killers, a court heard.

Former soldier Christina Duffin and friend Andrea Thomson believed their victim had given false alibis to help suspects avoid justice.

When they saw the woman in the street moments after paying an emotional visit to the sister of tragic murder victim Nattalie Muir, they acted on impulse.

They got out of their car and approached their victim in broad daylight.

One of the accused shouted: "You've got blood on your hands," then Duffin punched the woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground.

Ms Muir, 21, died in an incident in Whitburn, West Lothian, two weeks before Christmas, leaving a two-year-old daughter.

Four people have been indicted in connection with her murder.

Paul Beaton, prosecuting, said one of the people allegedly involved in the killing was the brother of the complainer.

He said: "Both accused repeatedly kicked her on the body as she lay on the ground.

"After some further remarks, both accused returned to the car and drove off."

Duffin later told police she was angry regarding the circumstances of her friend's death.

Darryl Lovie, defending Duffin, said she had just come out of the home of Ms Muir's sister.

He said: "Emotions were particularly high and it's an unfortunate coincidence that a short time later she encountered this woman.

"Clearly no-one can take the law into their own hands as it were, but I think that under the circumstances this was an impulsive event."

Sarah Meehan, for Thomson, said her client accepted that she had got involved in the argument and had carried out the assault.

She said: "She didn't know that the complainer was going to be there at the time. She's ashamed of her actions."

Iraq veteran Duffin and shift worker Thomson, both 29, appeared for sentence at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday. They earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in Whitburn on December 22, 2010, 11 days after the murder.

Duffin, from Whitburn, and Thomson, from Blackburn, West Lothian, were each sentenced to do 216 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Martin Edington told the accused: "It's an extremely serious matter taking the law into your own hands and doing so, particularly in a fashion like this, merits a custodial sentence.

"I gave serious consideration to depriving both of you of your liberty but I think it's appropriate to impose a community service order."