Robert Brown Denied Release After Killing Estranged Wife Joanna Simpson in 2010
Robert Brown, 60, will remain in prison until at least 2036, or until the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a risk. This ruling comes after a private hearing where the board concluded Brown was not fit for release, upholding the government’s intervention last year.
Brown received a 26-year sentence in 2011 for the manslaughter of Joanna Simpson, 46, in Ascot, Berkshire. He bludgeoned her to death with a claw hammer in October 2010, within earshot of their two young children. Following the killing, Brown buried Ms Simpson’s body in a pre-dug grave in Windsor Great Park, confessing to police the next day.
Despite being found not guilty of murder, with his defence citing stress from bitter divorce proceedings, he was sentenced to 24 years for manslaughter and an additional two years for obstructing a coroner.
Diana Parkes CBE, Ms Simpson’s mother, expressed profound relief at the decision, stating her daughter would have been 62 this May. She praised her grandchildren for their resilience and tenacity. Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also commented, acknowledging the relief this decision brings to Ms Simpson's family and friends who have campaigned for justice.
The Parole Board heard evidence from two psychologists, a psychiatrist, and both prison and community offender managers. None of the witnesses recommended Brown's release. The panel noted that Brown had not undertaken any approved risk reduction programmes and refused to participate in assessments to identify suitable interventions, choosing not to engage except on his own terms.
Brown had dismissed his legal team prior to the hearing and did not attend. The panel’s decision is provisional for 21 days, allowing him to seek a reconsideration before it becomes final.
