A "cunning" woman who allegedly tried to murder her sister by torching a house as she slept had asked her not to tell police she had given her sleeping tablets on the night of the blaze in case it "looked bad".

A court heard how Cathy Bartlett made the demand of her elder sister Rachael as she was treated in hospital hours after the fire from which she escaped with her life through a window.

Jurors at Winchester Crown Court were told of the conversation that took place between the sisters at Southampton General Hospital on April 7.

Prosecutor Charlie Gabb, as he completed the opening speech of his case against Bartlett, said: "Rachael will tell you many things. She will tell you about the details she can remember about both dreadful nights. She will become emotional.

"One thing she does remember is that when she was taken to hospital in the early hours of the morning of April 7, she remembers being there, Cathy being there, her eldest sister being there.

"At one stage she was alone with Cathy. Cathy said to her don't tell them that I gave you sleeping tablets because it will look bad."

Mr Gabb said it was "a truly shocking story" that had left Rachael, 34, suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He told the court how the parents of both girls "desperately want to believe" Bartlett, explaining that it was "no surprise" that "Rachael is now in a bad place".

Describing the fire at their mothers home in New Inn Lane, Bartley, in which petrol was poured on to the stairs, Mr Gabb said: "Somebody did that deliberately. It is a terrifying prospect. There are only three candidates for it.

"It is not mum. It either has to be Rachael or Cathy, there is no room for manoeuvre.

"Who was living a lie?"

Mr Gabb added: "Rachael has had, we would say, two attempts on her life. but for Jade (the dog) she would have died in the first.

"But for a bit of carelessness by Cathy, she would have died in the second.

"Who would want to think for one millisecond that your own sister who you have loved since the day she was born, would want to kill you in murder most foul?"

Bartlett, 30, who has been on remand since she was charged, denies attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life and ten counts of fraud.

Proceeding.