Stephanie Bowie stabbed 21-year-old Darren Russell twice in the chest. The incident took place on New Year’s Day 2021 in Erskine, Renfrewshire. Bowie argued that the stabbing was accidental and that she has ‘accidentally’ wounded the deceased and had used the knife to frighten him. 

However, at trial she was found guilty of murder. The court heard that Bowie had attended the scene as she her brother had an argument with the now deceased. She took a knife with her to meet them. On arrival she threatened to kill Mr Russell. 

A friend of the victim gave evidence in court stating: “I did not know why she was going for my friend. I was trying to get Mark to calm down his sister. Me and Mark had a kind of discussion…as I turned, he (Mr Russell) just fell to the deck and she has come skipping past, all happy.”

Mr Smith assisted the now deceased back to his home. However, he later passed away. 

During the trial Bowie admitted to killing Mr Russell; however, her position was that it was accidental. It was heard in evidence that the blows were deep into the deceased’s body. 

She told the court that Mr Russell had been standing over her which caused her to panic. She then brought out the knife. After the incident she got rid of the knife and her jacket which was found to have blood stains on it. 

The jury convicted her of murder, possession of a bladed article and an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. 

In sentencing Lord Weir stated that she had committed a ‘deplorable act of lethal violence’. Bowie was given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 16 years imprisonment before she is eligible for parole.