Horror: University Worker Stabs His Boss To Death Inside Her Own House…Then Does This (Photos)

David Browning stabbed the woman 15 times

A university worker stabbed his boss to death in her own home. He then went on to scrawl ‘bully’ across her forehead, a court was told.

David Browning, 52, launched a furious attack on Jillian Howell stabbing her 15 times after she rejected his romantic advances, a jury heard.

He is said to have then gone to the police station and handed himself in, confessing to officers: ‘In a nutshell I have killed my boss.’

Today Browning, who has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, went on trial charged with murder.

Hove Crown Court heard Browning, who is married with two grown-up children, had worked at the payroll department in the University of Brighton for almost 30 years.

But in 2015 Jill Howell was employed as his manager and the pair had to work closely together.

During that time Browning’s father died and the university worker began to suffer serious problems with depression.

Recognising his difficulties, Miss Howell, who also volunteered at the Samaritan, is said to have stepped in to try to help him.

She went for drinks with him and listened to his problems, the court was told.

But Browning became obsessed with Miss Howell and started showering her with gifts, flowers and text messages, the court heard.

Alan Gardner, prosecuting, said: ‘David Browning had formed an intense attachment with his boss and wanted a closer relationship with her.’

As well as repeatedly inviting her out for drinks, Mr Gardner said that Mr Browing sent inappropriate texts to her outside work.

The court was told that in one he said: ‘I adore you personally and professionally. I am there for you anytime. Dave x.’

Others are said to have included a message that read: ‘What a wonderful woman you are.

‘You are more than just my boss and I think you know that.’

He also messaged her describing her as his ‘rock’,  adding: ‘I will continue to be inappropriate but just to make you smile.’

Miss Howell became worried about his ‘intense attachment’ to her and confided in a friend, the court was told.

Jillian Howell, 46, was found stabbed to death at her home in Brighton last October

Mr Gardner said: ‘She told him [her friend] that David was suicidal and struggling to open up about his problems.

‘She mentioned David had told her she must never leave the university and never leave get a boyfriend because he needed her support. He was behaving in a possessing, controlling and jealous way.’

The court heard Browning began to suspect Miss Howell was in a relationship with another man, Sean McDonald.

In the weeks leading up to her killing Browning, who had a firearms licence, bought a shotgun and a 10cm lock knife an outdoor store.

He told shop staff he was interested in taking up clay pigeon shooting.

On the evening of the killing Miss Howell invited Browning round to her house ‘to cheer him up’ and she cooked him a meal.

But fearing she was about to reject him Browning went armed with the 10cm lock knife, the court heard.

Sometime during the evening he plunged the knife into her back before stabbing her in the neck, chest and stomach a total of 15 times.

Her body was found lying on the floor of the living room at her home in Brighton covered in blood.

Mr Gardner said: ‘The word bully had been scrawled across her forehead and other graffiti was scrawled around the house which suggested Sean McDonald might have had something to do with her death. He didn’t.

‘David Browning went to her house with the intention to kill her and himself. During the evening he attacked her. He stabbed her in the back and then delivered the forceful blows which killed her.

‘The killing of Jill Howell was a murder. David Browning was unable to take his relationship with her any further. He feared that she was about to reject him.

‘He was killing her out of jealousy and anger rather than an uncontrollable urge caused by his depression.

Mr Gardner said: ‘He suspected Sean McDonald was in a relationship with Jill Howell. He made careful arrangements to kill her several weeks beforehand.’

When he was arrested in the early hours of October 26 outside the police station he was clutching both weapons, the court was told.

He is said to have told police he had stabbed Miss Howell to death and had intended to kill himself with the shotgun.

Browning, 51, denies murder but pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.

The trial continues.

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