FRIENDS, family and wellwishers have raised nearly £2,000 in memory of a woman stabbed to death in her home.

Jillian Howell was killed on October 26 in her terraced house in Sandgate Road, Fiveways, Brighton.

Following her death friends set up a Justgiving page to raise money for the Samaritans, a group the 46-year-old volunteered with for many years.

At the time of going to press last night the total raised was at £1,803.

David Browning, 51, of Willow Drive, Seaford, is due in court today charged with her murder.

He is expected to enter a plea this morning.

Since her death dozens have paid tribute to Ms Howell, including best-selling crime author Peter James.

He had previously posted a tribute on his Instagram page.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “I met Jillian on a number of occasions, both at Brighton and Hove Samaritans, which I am patron of, and at the last six or so of my book launches.

“What always struck me about Jillian was her truly delightful aura. She was one of those people who had a real sparkle about her and at the same time an immensely caring nature.

"It was so easy to see why she would have been so wonderful with people in her role as a Samaritan and I know that she very often, selflessly, worked that real graveyard shift in the small hours of the morning, because, sadly, that is one of the organisation’s busiest times for calls."

Ms Howell, who worked with Browning at the University of Brighton, was an Albion season ticket holder.

A minute’s applause was held at the Albion match against Stoke on Monday night and there was also a tribute to her in the matchday programme.

She was the ex-partner of ex-mayor of Worthing, Sean McDonald.

He described her as his “soulmate” and said she was “universally loved”.

He described her death was a senseless tragedy, adding: “Jill was a wonderful lady and had only kindness in her heart. I first met her about ten years ago and we were introduced by a mutual friend.

“We met several times with other friends before we went out on our own. It is difficult to specifically say what our relationship was but over the years we had become very close and you could say we were companions as she was my ‘go to’ person.”