Man admits manslaughter of woman found in river but denies murder

Luke Powell
Suspicious death in Worcester
The scene near the Diglis footbridge in Worcester after the body of Christina Rowe was found in the River Severn (Matthew Cooper/PA)

A man has admitted killing a woman whose body was found in the River Severn.

Charles Byrne denied the murder of Christina Rowe in Worcester between February 9 and 10 this year but admitted her manslaughter.

The 24-year-old, who appeared at Warwick Crown Court via video-link on Tuesday, also denied the attempted murder of another person on the same date.

West Mercia Police were forced to close Worcester’s Diglis footbridge after Ms Rowe’s body was discovered in the south of the city on February 10.

Byrne, of Waterworks Road, Worcester, spoke only to enter pleas to the charges of murder and attempted murder.

Asked for his plea to the charge of Ms Rowe’s murder, he said: “I plead not guilty, but guilty to manslaughter.”

Judge James Burbidge adjourned the case for trial and said there would be an investigation into Byrne’s mental state.

Byrne, who was remanded in custody, is due to stand trial at Worcester Crown Court on November 29.

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