Joanna Simpson was brutally killed by her estranged husband, British Airways pilot Robert Brown, just one week before their divorce was due to be finalised. Brown pre-dug a grave and hid her body in Great Windsor Park. He finally admitted killing Joanna with a claw hammer, but he was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter which meant he was eligible for release after 13 years. Following years of campaigning by Joanna's mother Diana Parkes, best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Laura Richards and thousands of Crime Analyst listeners, Brown’s automatic release was stopped in 2023.

He came up for parole in April 2026. In this episode, Laura interviews Hetti Barkworth-Nanton and they take you behind the Parole Board Hearing sharing new details about Brown's psychopathic behaviour and ongoing risk.

Laura analyses and discusses with Hetti the significance of the evidence considered by the panel, including the relevance of coercive control, the importance of judicial sentencing remarks, and why understanding behavioural patterns - not simply convictions - is imperative when assessing dangerousness and risk.

In this episode Laura and Hetti discuss:

The significance of the fact-finding process prior to the Parole Board Hearing.

What the panel learned about Robert Brown's behaviour and psychology from a 330 page dossier.

Why psychopathy and behavioural patterns matter in risk assessment.

The importance of coercive control when assessing risk and dangerousness.

The knife incident and why it remained significant despite no criminal conviction.

Why the original sentencing remarks became crucial evidence years later.

The difference between criminal convictions and behavioural evidence.

What "retained culpability" means and why it mattered at the Parole Board Hearing.

Lessons for professionals assessing high-risk perpetrators.

Why understanding coercive control saves lives.

This episode continues Crime Analyst's landmark series examining Joanna Simpson's murder, the campaign that prevented Robert Brown's release, and the lessons every professional -and every listener - can learn about coercive control, risk assessment and the importance of understanding dangerous behaviour before tragedy occurs.

If you haven't already listened to Laura's landmark Joanna Simpson series, start here:
https://www.crime-analyst.com/case-004-joanna-simpson-a-miscarriage-of-justice/

#JoannaSimpson #HerNameWasJoSimpson #RobertBrown #BritishAirwaysKiller #CoerciveControl #Stalking #PreventMurderInSlowMotionä #WomenMatter #ChildrenMatter #DomesticAbuse #MaleViolence #CrimeAnalyst #Expert #Analysis #Behaviour #TrueCrime #Podcast #Crime #DomesticHomicide #NotAnotherJo

Clip

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1494827995475239

Sources

View the Judicial Review

Crime Analyst Episodes on Joanna Simpson’s case:

Ep 105: Joanna Simpson: A Miscarriage of Justice, Part 1

Ep 107: Joanna Simpson: A Miscarriage of Justice, Part 2

Ep 110: How to Save a Life with Hetti Nanton, Part 3

Ep 111: Reflections of Joanna Simpson, Part 4

The Case of Joanna Simpson: the British Airways killer who must stay behind bars

The Case of Joanna Simpson: killer pilot Robert Brown planned every detail of killing Jo

Ep 189: The British Airways Killer to Remain in Prison: The Judicial Review, Part 5

SIGN the petition for serial domestic abusers and stalkers to be on the same register as sex offenders and ensure they are proactively assessed and monitored.

https://www.jsfoundation.org.uk/

https://refuge.org.uk/

Laura’s Resources and Training information:
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