Man jailed for killing his estranged wife in Berkshire due before parole panel
Robert Brown killed Joanna Simpson in Ascot in 2010 and was sentenced to 26 years behind bars for manslaughter and obstructing a coroner
A former pilot who was jailed for killing his estranged wife in Berkshire is set to appear before a parole panel today.
Robert Brown attacked Joanna Simpson in Ascot in 2010 and was sentenced to 26 years for manslaughter and obstructing a coroner.
Brown was originally due for release in November 2023 after serving half of a 26-year sentence for manslaughter, but government intervention blocked his release.
Despite a legal challenge in early 2024 claiming political motivation, the High Court dismissed his judicial review in February 2024.
The case highlighted the tragic circumstances where Brown killed Simpson with a claw hammer in the presence of their two children, later burying her body and confessing to the police.
A court found him not guilty of murder, citing the distress from the couple's divorce, leading to a sentence of 24 years for manslaughter and two years for obstructing a coroner.
The family of Joanna Simpson applied for the parole hearing to be held publicly due to public interest, expressing concerns over the verdict and the justice system's handling of domestic violence cases.
Brown's legal team argues that a public hearing infringes on the privacy of those involved and could affect the parole panel's proceedings due to media scrutiny.
The outcome of this parole hearing remains pending.