A former British Airways pilot convicted of killing his estranged spouse has misplaced his newest bid for parole. Robert Brown, 61, bludgeoned 46-year-old Joanna Simpson to demise of their Ascot, Berkshire household residence in 2010, inside earshot of their younger youngsters. After a personal two-day listening to final month, the Parole Board decided that Brown stays unfit for launch.
The 2010 Killing
Brown attacked Joanna Simpson, the mom of his two younger youngsters, with a claw hammer and buried her physique in Windsor Nice Park. He pleaded responsible to manslaughter on grounds of diminished duty, citing a stress-related adjustment dysfunction. Simpson’s household has argued the act was premeditated and warranted a homicide cost.
Marketing campaign to Block Launch
Brown confronted computerized launch midway by way of his 26-year sentence in November 2023. Nonetheless, former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk intervened, referring the case to the Parole Board. Brown challenged the choice legally, however a Excessive Courtroom choose discovered affordable grounds to consider he poses a major danger of great hurt to the general public.
The hassle to maintain Brown imprisoned gained momentum by way of a three-year marketing campaign led by Simpson’s mom, Diana Parkes CBE, and her good friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE. Carrie Johnson, spouse of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, emerged as a key supporter.
Reactions to Parole Denial
“I’m extremely relieved that the Parole Board determined to not launch Robert Brown,” Ms. Parkes said. “We’ve all lived with the concern that this may not be the case, however thank goodness it was unanimously agreed he shouldn’t be launched.”
She added, “My daughter would have been 62 final Wednesday, Could 6, and, in fact, we bear in mind her as the gorgeous and vivacious lady she was at 46. That’s how I’ll all the time bear in mind her.”
Carrie Johnson referred to as the choice a “big aid.” “Joanna’s family members have spent years combating with extraordinary braveness and willpower to make sure justice is completed,” she mentioned. “They shouldn’t have needed to combat as exhausting as they did—however at present’s verdict exhibits a minimum of that it has been value it.”
Ms. Barkworth-Nanton expressed profound aid: “For the reason that day Robert Brown was given a sentence that may have led to his computerized launch in 2023, now we have all lived beneath a cloud of concern—a concern that at present, eventually, has been lifted.”
She credited the result to the marketing campaign’s persistence, public help, media protection, political engagement, Ministry of Justice scrutiny, and the Parole Board’s rigorous assessment, emphasizing public safety over course of.
Brown stays in custody till the complete 26-year time period ends, until the Parole Board deems him not a danger.
