09 March 2023 , 08:45
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The family of a mother violently killed by her British Airways pilot husband at their home has described him as a risk to the public as his release from prison looms.
Robert Brown bludgeoned his wife Joanna to death with a claw hammer in October 2010, while their two young children were in a nearby playroom. He then buried the 46-year-old's body in a makeshift coffin in a prepared grave in Windsor Great Park.
Brown was acquitted of murder by a jury at Reading Crown Court in May 2011, but was jailed for manslaughter. He was sentenced to 24 years and a further two years for an offence of obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty.
As Brown is now due to be released from prison on licence in November, at the halfway point of his sentence, Joanna's mother Diana Parkes is campaigning to block his release.
Diana appeared on Thursday morning’s Good Morning Britain studio alongside her daughter Joanna’s close friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton as they have called on justice secretary Dominic Raab to intervene.
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Joanna's mother Diana Parkes is campaigning to block his release (ITV)Good Morning Britain co-hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway asked Diana about her concerns surrounding looming Brown’s release from prison.
She said: “Well, he told my daughter when he attacked her with a knife in 2007 that he hated our family for the whole of their marriage.”
She added: “I worry about women that he might get involved with. The public. He’s going to seek revenge. He’s going to blame everybody else but himself.
Robert Brown was sentenced to 26 years in prison for manslaughter (PA)
The former BA pilot killed his estranged wife Joanna Brown (PA)“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.”
Hetti then added: “He’s already been assessed as a risk – as a critical protection case – so they know he’s a risk. Look at the state of probation now. This is not safe.”
A charity set up in Joanna's honour, the Joanna Simpsons Foundation, is calling on people to send a letter to their MP asking for Brown's release to be stopped.
Diana said Brown 'shows no remorse whatsoever' (ITV)The charity hosted a recount event in Westminster to launch their campaign, which saw Carrie Johnson, the wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speak in support at the event.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson has said: "This was an appalling crime and our thoughts remain with Joanna Simpson's family and friends.
"The deputy prime minister will do everything in his power to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars and has pledged to give this case his closest personal attention."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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