JOANNE Whitelegg sat back on her couch, watching television and chatting to her young friend.

It was a close relationship built on trust which had developed over the last three or so years, with Joanne providing an ear for the teenager to voice her concerns.

But as the 35-year-old single woman enjoyed the TV, a drink and the company, she would have had little idea that she had just seconds left to live.

It is thought that matters came to a head shortly before midnight on Valentine's Day.

An argument started between the two and the 16-year-old girl lost control.

Taking hold of a knife, she repeatedly plunged the blade into her unsupecting victim no less than 26 times.

Forensic experts believe up to three separate weapons were used to exact the puncture wounds and slashes in what has been described as a "frenzied and sustained" attack.

No defence type marks or wounds were found on Joanne's body, suggesting that the stricken woman showed little or no resistance to the attack.

And when paramedics arrived at the scene at 12.30am on Monday, February 15, 2000, they found Joanne slumped at the foot of the flat's stairwell, in the foyer of the flat on the ground floor.

The ambulance crew desperately fought to revive Joanne, as she was transferred to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But as she was taken into casualty, medics confirmed that the fight to save Joanne had proved to be in vain. She was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.