Rebecca Hannibal, 19, pleaded guilty in April to supplying the ecstasy that caused Ms Bartter, 19, to collapse at Sydney's Harbourlife festival last November.

The court heard Hannibal bought the pills from drug dealer Matthew Forti before the festival and then gave them to Ms Bartter.

Ms Bartter, a former student of exclusive private girls school Wenona, paid $60 for her share. At the festival, the young women took 1½ pills each.

Within two hours, Ms Bartter had an adverse reaction to the drugs and later died in St Vincent's Hospital from multiple organ failure.

On sentencing, Judge Graeme Henson said Hannibal "is not legally responsible" for Ms Bartter's death.

Her role was to facilitate the purchase of the drugs and deliver them to her friend.

"Two young women, close friends go out to enjoy a music festival. They make a foolish decision to buy and consume drugs. Only one comes home," Judge Henson said.

"[Hannibal] knew she was breaking the law. She and Ms Bartter were both aware of the potential consequences."

He said text messages between Ms Bartter and Hannibal in the week leading up to the festival showed both girls were "familiar with the drug in question".

Ms Bartter wanted three pills - two for the festival and one for later use.

In one text message, Ms Bartter said, "I'm not taking three [ecstasy pills] at HarbourLife - I'd die".

"And so she did," Judge Henson said.

In a statement to police on December 15, 2015, Hannibal said Ms Bartter knew Forti and, had she (Hannibal) not obtained the drugs, her friend was "certainly capable" of doing it herself.

Judge Henson said illicit drugs were "sadly part of the reality of modern life" and the real blame lay with drug dealers, particularly "low-level" dealers who sold drugs to their circle of friends or acquaintances without regard for their safety.

"The real evil in this case is not present in this courtroom," he said.

However, he said Hannibal had knowingly and willingly broken the law and the community expected there to be consequences.

Judge Henson said during the sentencing hearing that Hannibal's counsel, high-profile barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, asked that a conviction not be recorded "so that in part her name is not blighted … and her hopes for the future are not unreasonably hindered".

However, Judge Henson said Hannibal deserved a criminal record, regardless of the effect it may have on her future travel, employment prospects or entry into a profession.

"This conduct is a crime and should be acknowledged as such by the whole community for what it is; a course of conduct anti-social and criminal in nature with consequences," he said.

Forti is awaiting sentence in the Downing District Court on four counts of supply.

Hannibal, from Cammeray on Sydney's north shore, was due to be sentenced earlier this month but could not attend court because of acute appendicitis.

Her mother cried silently during the sentencing.

Hannibal remained composed throughout the sentencing but, after the court adjourned, her lawyer confirmed she would have a criminal record.

Hannibal began wailing and was comforted by her father.

After the court adjourned, Hannibal, her parents and lawyer went up and down in the lifts of the Downing Centre multiple times, trying to avoid the media.

Mrs Hannibal physically blocked reporters from entering the lifts and accused the media of "harassment".

Despite the Hannibals' hostility, Judge Henson welcomed the media interest in the case, saying: "When the loss of a life so young … happens through a course of conduct that is sadly part of the reality of modern life, the media and courts have a social responsibility to highlight the dangers surrounding the taking of illicit substances."

Hannibal has moved with her boyfriend to Victoria to study at RMIT largely, she said, because of the negative attention she has received. She said some of her friends had cut ties and she had been attacked on social media.

But Judge Henson said he did not consider this to be extracurial punishment warranting a mitigation in sentence.

In a report, consultant psychologist Neill Ballardie described her as "highly depressed" and at risk of developing post traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Ballardie said Hannibal now understood the criminality of her role and "would do anything to undo her actions and knows she will carry the pain and scars of what happened for the rest of her life".