University student Matthew Forti has been sentenced to at least 12 months' jail for supplying the "purple speaker" ecstasy pills that led to the death of former private school girl Georgina Bartter.

In the Downing Centre District Court on Friday, Judge Deborah Sweeney sentenced Forti to a maximum 22 months' jail for three counts of supplying prohibited drugs, including four MDMA tablets he sold to Ms Bartter's best friend, Rebecca Hannibal.

Matthew Forti at the Downing Centre District Court last year. Credit:Nick Moir

Forti, 19, appeared stunned at the sentence and his mother and girlfriend wept. They were allowed to hug before Forti was taken away by corrective services officers.

In sentencing, Judge Sweeney said Forti was "essentially a positive young man who went astray for a while". She said he was not legally responsible for Ms Bartter's death but there was a need to deter other young people from dealing illicit drugs.