In a tragic case that has shocked the nation, a mentally ill woman has been detained indefinitely under the UK’s Mental Health Act for the racially motivated killing of an innocent Black man, Hubert “Isaac” Brown, in broad daylight.
Christina Howell, 37, who had long struggled with schizoaffective disorder, fatally stabbed Brown, 61, on September 29, 2023, just moments after pleading for psychiatric help.
The case resurfaced last week when a Bristol judge ruled that Howell should remain under secure hospital care, calling her a continuing danger to the public.
Howell Delusional Before Attack, Yet Released by Mental Health Nurse
On the day of the killing, Howell was seen by a community mental health nurse at her home. During the visit, she pulled out a four-inch knife from her bra, placed it on the table, and told the nurse she “needed help” and wanted to go to the hospital.
She also made a disturbing comment:
“I need to get the Jamaican drug dealer who gave my cousin crack cocaine.”
Brown, who was not involved in any crime, was simply sitting outside on Grosvenor Road in St. Pauls, when Howell approached and stabbed him in the neck without warning.
Despite clear red flags, the nurse allowed Howell to leave without calling police or emergency mental health teams.
A Racist and Delusional Act
Moments after the nurse’s visit, Howell walked out with the knife and attacked Brown, a well-liked local resident. Witnesses said she shouted racist slurs during and after the attack, claiming Brown was a drug dealer — a belief rooted in delusion, not fact.
After the stabbing, bystanders tried to save Brown by carrying him into a taxi and rushing him to the hospital. Sadly, he died shortly after arrival due to a deep neck wound.
Howell Shows No Remorse, Compares Herself to Vigilante Figure
When arrested, Howell called herself the “Charles Bronson of Bristol” — referencing the tough vigilante character from the Death Wish films — and told police she had no regrets about Brown’s death.
“I regret that I stabbed him, not that he died,” she said.
She went on to blame local crime, adding, “There’s a lot more where that came from,” and insisted her actions were a response to drug dealing — despite no evidence Brown was involved in any such activity.
History of Severe Mental Illness
A forensic psychiatrist confirmed that Howell had been sectioned multiple times since 2013 and had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals at least 14 times. She was under treatment and receiving antipsychotic injections at the time of the killing.
In court, Howell pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. The judge ruled out life imprisonment but ordered that she be detained at Rampton Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility.
She has also been banned from ever returning to Bristol.
Victim’s Family Demands Justice and Respect
Brown’s cousin, Dion Johnson, gave a powerful victim impact statement, saying:
“Isaac is more than another victim of racist violence. He deserves respect, and his loss should not be in vain.”
The family described the loss as unbearable and said Howell’s lack of remorse only deepened their pain.