JUSTICE FOR JO
Pilot Robert Brown who bludgeoned his wife Joanna Simpson to death WON’T be allowed out of prison after her mum’s plea
Mum's body was found in horror spot days after she vanished
A PILOT who bludgeoned his wife to death won't be freed from prison - after her mum pleaded he stay behind bars.
Joanna Simpson's killer husband Robert Brown had fought to be allowed out of jail, but a judge today ruled against it.
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The mum-of-two was brutally smashed over the head 14 times with a claw hammer before her body was thrown into the boot of a car.
She was then driven to a pre-dug grave, where her body remained until it was found five days later.
The horror crime was committed by Brown in her Windsor home within earshot of their two children in 2010.
The following year he was thrown behind bars for 26 years after being convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
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Brown had been due to be released early in November until Justice Secretary Alex Chalk stepped in - using “powers to detain” to keep him behind bars.
The killer then launched a Judicial Review at the High Court against Chalk’s decision to block his automatic release from prison.
The review came to a close today - with it being ruled Brown would stay behind bars.
Following the decision, Joanna's mum Diana Parkes said: “I am grateful that the Courts delivered a positive and swift response following the judicial review brought on by my daughter’s killer.
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"The decision to uphold the Justice Secretary’s decision to block his early automatic release is the right one.
"Brown committed the most horrific crime against my loving and caring daughter, Jo. He must be kept in prison."
Haunting video from killer pilot Robert Brown’s wedding to Joanna Simpson reveals chilling words before bludgeoning wife
The tragic mum's best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who has campaigned tirelessly for justice, added: “When we first found this new power last year we were told by everyone that it couldn't apply to Robert Brown.
"I am delighted that the Judge has made the decision to uphold the Secretary of State for Justice's decision to block Robert Brown's automatic release and, subject to any appeal, Robert Brown now cannot be released before the end of his 26 year sentence in 2036 unless the parole board decide he is safe.
"This is a landmark decision which has the potential to open up this new power to other dangerous offenders on determinate sentences who chose not to engage in rehabilitation, which is all too common in cases of serious and fatal domestic abuse.”
It came days after Joanna's mum Di Parkes opened up about how terrified she would be if Brown walked the streets again.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, Di said: "We fear his release because he’s dangerous and it certainly wasn’t manslaughter, it was premeditated all the way through.
"He dug the hole where he put the garden box many months before and it was so carefully planned.
If he killed me, he would be sent to prison for a whole lifetime, really.
Di Parkes
“I don’t really know [what he will do], but I hope he comes to kill me first so that all my family and in fact women in general will be safe because he’s a psychopath in my opinion."
A hearing earlier this month heard that Brown could be at risk of killing again if he was released early from prison and has “no remorse”.
The Ministry of Justice argued that he was a “significant risk of serious harm” due to his “non-engagement” with probation officers which would allow officials to properly assess the danger.
The killer's lawyers said that it was a “political decision” made by the Secretary of State due to pressure from the media and not grounded in policy.
It was revealed that before a decision was made in October last year, the Secretary of State had received letters from 220 MPs expressing their concern over the case.
Brown’s lawyer Philip Rule KC argued that because of the extensive media campaign surrounding the case, the Justice Secretary was “grasping to justify” the decision to detain Brown rather than amassing evidence first.
He told London’s High Court today: “There was no open mind being applied by the time you get to making a decision.”
Mr Rule added: “This matter does not seem to leave the top of the pile for the minister because of the attention it is receiving.”
Joanna’s family and close friends have been campaigning since her death to stop Brown from being released halfway through his 26-year manslaughter sentence.
The Sun launched its Justice For Joanna campaign last year to ask the Justice Secretary to review Brown’s case.
What happened to Joanna Simpson?
On Halloween in 2010, ex-BA pilot Brown killed Joanna, 46, at their family home in Ascot, as their two children played nearby.
Brown hit Joanna 14 times over the head, before placing her body into the boot of his car.
This had followed a sustained period of domestic abuse which included coercive control, isolation, intimidation and severe violence.
Joanna's body was found five days later buried in a pre-dug grave.
The tragic death of the mother-of-two took place just one week before the finalisation of their divorce.
Following her death, the Joanna Simpson Foundation was set up in her memory.
The foundations work is based on her beliefs, values, and the love of her children.
The mum's death came just one week before her divorce from Brown was finalised.
Their relationship was volatile - with a sustained period of domestic abuse which included coercive control, isolation, intimidation and serious violence.
Things got so bad in 2007 that Brown held a knife to Joanna's chest.
Di added: "Unfortunately, when he took a knife to my daughter in 2007, he told her that he’d hated her family for the eight years they were married.”
The heartbroken mum continued: "I mean it because I am going to be 85 in May. I’ve lived my life and my family… I’m fearful.
"My granddaughter, my grandson, my son, and his family. We’re all terrified.
“He certainly should be serving his 26-year sentence and in fact now, he would have been serving two thirds of that, but 12 years ago it was sadly half.
"If he killed me, he would be sent to prison for a whole lifetime, really.”
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Spokesperson from the Joanna Simpson Foundation said: “We are pleased that the Court has ruled in favour of the defendant (the Secretary of State for Justice) in making sure the decision to block the early automatic release of Robert Brown stands.
"We now hope that the Parole Board sees the same level of threat to the public as have the Court and the Secretary of State for Justice and continues to block Brown’s early automatic release.”
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