Woman admits killing 'much loved' community member

A woman has admitted stabbing a much-loved community member to death in what police are treating as a race hate crime.

Hubert "Isaac" Brown, 61, died after being attacked in the St Pauls area of Bristol in September 2023.

Christina Howell, 37, of Easton, admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at a hearing a Bristol Crown Court on Friday after originally entering a not guilty plea in November 2024.

The new plea has been formally accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, police have said.

Mr Brown, also of Easton, was attacked on Grosvenor Road on 29 September, 2023.

Ms Howell was arrested at the scene and first appeared in court charged with murder on 2 October, 2023.

Since then she has been detained in a high-security hospital pending psychiatric reports on her fitness to stand trial.

Avon and Somerset Police said Mr Brown's family are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers along with the charity Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI).

"His death continues to be treated as a race-hate crime by the Major Crime Investigation Team," the force said in a statement.

Avon and Somerset Police Det Insp Nadine Partridge said: "This has been a devastating tragedy for Isaac's family, with the unavoidable delays to the court case resulting from Howell's mental ill health adding to their pain.

"I'm humbled by the dignity they have shown in their loss and, along with the investigation team, am grateful for their support throughout, even as they marked a second Christmas without him. Our thoughts are with them."

Ms Howell will be sentenced at a hearing on 7 February.

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