Family appeals to Dominic Raab over killer pilot’s release

• The justice secretary has promised to “very rigorously” examine the parole case of Robert Brown.
• Who was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
• For killing his 46-year-old wife Joanna.

The justice secretary has been contacted by the mother of a woman who was slain by her pilot husband more than ten years ago in order for him to be released from prison.

In 2010, British Airlines pilot Robert Brown pleaded guilty to killing his 46-year-old wife Joanna, and he was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Her mother Diana Parkes, 83, requested a meeting with Dominic Raab to discuss the issues facing her family.

Mr. Raab promised to “very rigorously” examine the parole case.

In October 2010, as his two young children hid in a playroom, the former pilot bludgeoned his wife to death in their Berkshire house with a claw hammer.

In Windsor Great Park, he interred his wife’s body in a pre-dug grave.

At Reading Crown Court in May 2011, a jury found Brown not guilty of murder. Brown said the prenuptial agreement had “stitched him up.”

As a result of diminished responsibility, he had already admitted manslaughter.

Brown, previously of North Street in Winkfield, received a sentence of 24 years for manslaughter and an additional two years for hindering a coroner from doing his job.

The family is “extremely afraid,” according to Mrs. Parkes, of the possibility that Brown will be released later this year without first undergoing a mental health evaluation.

She said she wanted to meet Mr. Raab “so I can explain in person why this case has gone so wrong”.

Speaking on Sunday to Laura Kuenssberg, Mr. Raab said “of course” he would meet the family.

“Within the powers I’ve got, I’ll look at this as I would any other – very rigorously,” he said.

He said he could not comment on whether he would block Brown’s release, but said parole decisions were scrutinized “exceptionally carefully”.

“And I’ve also been clear, I don’t think the parole service powers are adequate at the moment, which is why we’ll be bringing forward legislation to reform that – I hope that’s something which will have widespread support,” he added.

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