Jailed for stabbing best friend at BBQ

A Maddington man has been jailed for 10 years for fatally stabbing his best friend during a drunken argument.

Layne Armstrong, 28, was this morning sentenced in the Supreme Court for the manslaughter of his friend and neighbour Adam Summersby, 29, a year ago.

Armstrong and Mr Summersby had been drinking together at a family barbecue in the hours before the fatal argument, the court was told.

The court was told Armstrong stabbed Mr Summersby four times after they argued about the way Mr Summersby was talking to his wife.

Armstrong, who pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter, had argued Mr Summersby had thrown a chair at him and then came at him with a knife, which he wrestled off him.

Mr Summersby was stabbed four times, including once to his heart.

Justice Eric Heenan said a pre-sentence report for the court revealed Armstrong was genuinely sympathetic and remorseful.