University worker who knifed boss 15 times and scrawled "bully" on her forehead, sentenced to 28 years in prison
A former Brighton University worker who stabbed his boss to death was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Wednesday.
David Browning, 52, killed Jillian Howell, 46, by stabbing her around fifteen times in October last year. He also scrawled "bully" on her forehead with a pen while the victim was lying in a pool of blood.
Payroll manager Howell was helping her fellow university worker, Browning, cope with depression after the death of his father.
He mistook her attempts for affection and later attacked the 46-year-old woman. He scribbled 'bully' across her forehead after stabbing her at her Brighton home.
The incident happened at Howell's home where they were having dinner before the attack.
According to reports, Browning arrived at the home with a curry, flowers and a bottle of wine and continued to have a meal together before the attack.
But when she rejected his advances he stabbed her fifteen times in her chest, neck and abdomen.
As Howell lay on the floor in a pool of blood, Browning scrawled 'bully' across her forehead with a marker pen claiming she was unfair to him at work.
He wrote other messages on her wall including one that blamed the murder on Sean McDonald, a friend of Howelll and the Mayor of Worthing, who was believed to be in a relationship with the victim.
The victim's friends and family gasped and shouted 'Yes' yesterday as a jury rejected Browning's claims of diminished responsibility and convicted him of murder, reported Daily Mail.
Even though he was diagnosed with mental illness, it did not excuse the crime he committed.
According to reports, Browning had bought a knife to kill her and a shotgun with which he planned to kill himself. He had also put up suicide letters claiming he could no longer put up with workplace bullying.
He confessed to Howell that he couldn't go home as he had posted his suicide note. She told him she was going to take him to the hospital and when she bent to tie her shoes, he stabbed her.
Browning said: "I was behind her. I felt this whoosh feeling come over. I pulled the knife out and stabbed her in the back," he told the court.
Howell was very mindful and wanted to help Browning as she knew of his condition. Browning was very grateful for the support he got from her.
But over the next few weeks he confessed that he was having suicidal thoughts. She was concerned for his well being and invited him for dinner. Little did she know that he was getting extremely attached to her.
Her friends were concerned about the dinner invitation.