Soldier guilty of friend's murder

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A soldier who strangled his best friend with a rifle sling has been found guilty of murder and ordered to serve at least 13 and a half years in prison.

Anthony Stewart, 27, showed no emotion as the jury rejected his plea that he had diminished responsibility when he killed Pte Andrew Dobson, 23.

Jailing Stewart, from Banff, Scotland, Mr Justice Jack nonetheless took account of his personality disorder.

Mr Dobson's mother said his murder had left her "absolutely devastated".

Sometimes people may shout at their children...please don't shout at them - they may be the last words you say to them Mary Dobson

Stewart killed Mr Dobson in the barrack room they both shared on 17 November 2002.

During the trial, Janice Brennan, prosecuting, told the jury that Stewart had been so calculating he had worn surgical gloves before pulling a rifle sling around his friend's neck as he ate.

Stewart then threw the sling out the window, called for help, and told fellow soldiers that Dobson had tried to kill himself.

As the soldiers waited for an ambulance to arrive, Stewart, who was experienced in first aid, made incorrect resuscitation attempts on his friend.

Mr Justice Jack said the prison term was the minimum time Stewart would spend in jail before becoming eligible for parole.

Dobson's mother, in a witness impact statement, told the court she now suffered from nightmares and panic attacks.

"Sometimes people may shout at their children," she said.

"I feel like saying to them, 'please don't shout at them - they may be the last words you say to them'."

His father, John Dobson, said he had lost all purpose in life.