Killer BA pilot who battered wife to death 'could kill again if released'

16 February 2024 , 12:30

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Robert Brown had his automatic release blocked (Image: PA)

A killer pilot who bludgeoned his wife to death more than 13 years ago could kill again if released early from jail, according to his victim’s family.

Robert Brown beat his wife Joanna Simpson to death with a claw hammer in their family home in October 2010. He then buried the 46-year-old's body in a makeshift coffin in a prepared grave in Windsor Great Park.

The ex-British Airways captain was cleared of murder, having admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and has served 13 years of a 26-year sentence. Last October, Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk confirmed he will use powers to stop Brown being released automatically and instead get the case reviewed by the Parole Board. At a hearing in London this week, Brown’s lawyers argued the referral was unlawful, while the Government says his legal action should be dismissed.

Joanna Simpson was bludgeoned to death (PA)

Speaking during proceedings, Joanna’s mother Diana, who led a campaign to block his release from prison with her friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, said she would fear for her family's safety should he get out, reports MailOnline.

Brown's lawyers argue the Parole Board referral was "an obvious attempt to seek to reverse engineer justification for a decision that was in reality prompted and obtained through conscious or unconscious political bias". They added the risk posed by Brown had not increased and that he had been "subjected to a high-profile campaign through the media and with politicians that has sought to block his release".

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The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) rejects his allegations, arguing Mr Chalk "in no way seeks to 'go behind' or 'disapply' or 'fail to respect' the sentencing court's decision".

A ruling on the decision is expected later this year.

In a previous appearance on Good Morning Britain in May 2023, Diana spoke of her concerns should Brown be released from prison. She said: “Well, he told my daughter when he attacked her with a knife in 2007 he hated our family for the whole of their marriage. I worry about women he might get involved with. The public. He’s going to seek revenge. He’s going to blame everybody else but himself.

“He shows no remorse whatsoever. He said he would tell the children why he killed their mother. It is just unbelievable how foul he is.”

Antony Clements-Thrower