killing her should have been sentenced to death.

The woman, who had known the 69-year-old grandmother for close to 30 years before her December, 1997 death, said the punishment should have matched the brutality of the crime.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette under condition of anonymity following the life sentences handed down yesterday to Michael Brian Pitcher and Michael Dean Eberly, she said: "It was obvious that one or both did the killing.

"It should be tit for tat, not life. Their lives should be taken. They should not serve time in prison. Her life has gone. They should be put to death.

"They are going to sit in prison. Taxpayers are going to keep them there and she has gone.'' She spoke of the effect the murder had had on Mrs. Simons' son, Joe Santos, who lives on the Island.

"He will be relieved it is over, but it will never bring his mother back,'' the friend said. "He hasn't been the same since and I doubt whether he will ever get over it.'' Mrs. Simons, she said, was an extremely quiet person who never bothered anybody.

"She was always sweet and kind, and tried to do what she could to help others,'' she said. "Anybody she came into contact with would say what a beautiful person she was.'' Earlier both Pitcher and Eberly apologised publicly to their families, but denied any involvement in Mrs. Simons' killing.

Victim's friend calls for death sentence Eberly said: "I apologise for my participation that night, for being there. I apologise to my friends and family for the embarrassment and to my neighbours in Dockyard.

"I did not kill Beatrice Simons.'' Pitcher also said he was sorry for his actions, but said he was under the influence of drugs.

"There is one thing I do know,'' he said. "If I die today and meet my maker, although there are a lot of things I would have to answer -- my hands are clean of her blood.'' COURTS CTS