A grieving mother, Diana Parkes, expressed her joy after the Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, intervened to halt the automatic release of British Airways pilot Robert Brown, who killed her daughter, Joanna Simpson, in 2010. Brown bludgeoned Simpson to death with a hammer and was scheduled for automatic release. However, Chalk referred the case to the Parole Board. Parkes, who had previously criticized Brown, stated that she was delighted with Chalk’s decision and hoped that the Parole Board would recognize Brown’s danger. A campaign, supported by the Mail, had been launched to prevent Brown’s release. Simpson’s closest friends, including Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, had expressed their fear of Brown’s potential release. Barkworth-Nanton described him as narcissistic, grumpy, and intimidating. She feared for her own safety if he were to be released. Chalk utilized new powers introduced by the Conservatives in 2021 to prevent Brown’s automatic release. He referred the case to the Parole Board, stating that he made a commitment to Simpson’s family and reviewed all available information before blocking Brown’s release. Brown, who had initially admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, was acquitted of murder in 2011 and sentenced to 26 years in prison. The former BA captain had bludgeoned Simpson to death with a hammer that he had hidden in his child’s school bag while their children were present. Simpson had filed for divorce after suffering years of cruelty. Brown buried her body in Windsor Great Park, using a garden crate as her makeshift coffin. The campaign to block Brown’s release gained support from prominent Conservative women, including Priti Patel and Carrie Johnson. The Justice Secretary referred Brown’s case to the Parole Board under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which allows ministers to override automatic release for the most serious cases. If the Parole Board determines that Brown still poses a risk to the public, they can order him to remain in prison.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel



Source link