A Queensland woman unable to use her mental illness as a defence because of amphetamine and alcohol use has been sentenced to jail for attempting to murder her friend.
Michelle Ann Mondientz, 42, concealed three knives on her body before unexpectedly lunging at former friend Samantha Taylor in June 2014.
She apparently thought the woman was related to a convicted murderer.
The Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane was told Mondientz said, "I'm killing her because she is Chris' sister," in reference to Christopher James Swan who was convicted of the murder of Booval woman Amanda Quirk in 2010.
This was incorrect and indicated a psychotic factor at work, Justice Ann Lyons said during sentencing on Friday.
Mondientz was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to the same killing after admitting to helping dump Ms Quirk's body in northern NSW bushland.
The court heard Mondientz befriended Taylor in prison while serving time for the crime but their friendship became strained outside.
In 2014 Mondientz invited Taylor to a home at Woody Point north of Brisbane.
The pair sat at a table with a number of others when Mondientz lunged at her throat without warning.
She even tried to stab her with a broken glass bottle after being disarmed of knives three times.
Mondientz admitted trying to kill the woman when police arrived.
The court was told a doctor found she was acutely and chronically intoxicated by alcohol and amphetamines at the time so did not qualify for a defence of unsoundness of mind.
This was despite a serious underlying mental illness contributing to her behaviour.
Justice Lyons sentenced Mondientz to nine and a half years' prison.
Mondientz, who has already spent 1872 days in custody, is able to apply for parole.
The court was told she had a particularly traumatic upbringing.
Australian Associated Press
