JUSTICE FOR JOANNA
British Airways Killer: Where is Robert Brown now?
And why the killer's release from prison was blocked
A NEW ITV documentary called The British Airways Killer will delve into the case of a captain who bludgeoned his wife to death.
Joanna Simpson was brutally killed in 2010, just days before her divorce from Robert Brown was due to be finalised.
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Who is Robert Brown and where is he now?
Robert Brown is an ex-pilot who killed his estranged wife Joanna Simpson in 2010.
The former couple, who married in 1999, shared two children.
This man is not fit to be let out. He should stay in jail for at least his full sentence.
Joanna Simpson's Mother Diana Parkes on Robert Brown
They welcomed their son Alex just two months after their wedding and had a daughter Kate 17 months later.
Kate and Alex were only nine and ten at the time of their mother's tragic death.
Joanna died in her Ascot home, while her children were playing in the next room.
Following a trial, Robert was convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility in 2011.
The killer was handed a 24-year sentence for manslaughter - plus two years for obstructing a coroner.
After serving half of his sentence, Robert was up for automatic release on licence in November 2023.
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Following the news of his bid for freedom, Joanna's mother - Diana Parkes - launched an appeal in The Sun to block his release.
Diana, who inspired stars like Queen Camilla and Carrie Johnson to join her in a passionate campaign against domestic abuse, shared her fears that Brown would hurt her and her grandchildren if he was released.
She told The Sun: ''I worry for everybody because this man is not safe.
"I think he will stop at nothing and we will be constantly looking over our shoulders. Let common sense please rule the day.
I investigated Joanna Simpson's brutal killing... here's the three signs I knew her ex was guilty
"This man is not fit to be let out. He should stay in jail for at least his full sentence.''
Joanna's family also called on Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk to give the case his full attention and to use his powers to prevent Brown's early release.
In October 2023 it was confirmed that Chalk had blocked Robert's automatic release and that the killer would stay behind bars.
Chalk said at the time: "I made a commitment to Joanna's family that I would give this case my closest personal attention.
"Having reviewed all the information available to me, I have blocked Brown's automatic release and referred this case to the parole board using powers we introduced to protect the public from the most dangerous offenders."
In February 2024, Robert challenged the decision.
His lawyer claimed that proper policy was not followed because of the high-profile nature of the case.
As of February 2024, a ruling is expected at a later date.
Joanna Simpson - Family campaigns to keep her killer Robert Brown behind bars as he faces automatic release at the end of the year
What happened to Joanna Simpson?
On October 31, 2010, Robert killed his estranged wife Joanna.
She was just 46 years old at the time.
Robert had a history of inflicting coercive control, isolation, intimidation and severe violence on Joanna.
On the night of her death, he hid a hammer in one of his children's school bags when he came to drop them off at their home in Ascot.
He then attacked Joanna with the hammer before placing her body in the boot of his car and driving to a pre-dug grave which was located in Windsor Great Park.
Joanna's body was found five days later.
Following the mother-of-two's tragic death, the Joanna Simpson foundation was set up in her memory.
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The charity works to transform the care, support and protection of children affected by domestic abuse and homicide.
According to the foundation's official website, it works to help victims of crime "get the justice they deserve" and help them "move on from these traumatic events".