Mum calls for 'common sense' over claw hammer killer's release

Robert Brown was jailed for 26 years for Joanna Simpson's manslaughter

A mother campaigning to prevent the release of her daughter's killer is calling for "common sense to prevail".

Diana Parkes' daughter Joanna Simpson was 46 when she was bludgeoned to death with a claw hammer by her husband Robert Brown in Windsor in 2010.

Brown was jailed for manslaughter but is due for automatic release in November when he will have served half of his original 26-year sentence.

Ms Parkes said the case should be referred to the Parole Board.

In an interview with BBC Radio Berkshire, she said former British Airways captain Brown was "arrogant".

She also described how she had always disliked Brown and spoke of the difficult years without her "lovely and fantastic" daughter.

Joanna Simpson ran a four star guesthouse in Ascot

Brown attacked Ms Simpson in the family home as their two young children cowered in a playroom.

He later drove her body to Windsor Great Park, where he buried her in a crate.

Ms Parkes has repeatedly said she is concerned about the risks posed by Brown if he is set free.

She has already had an initial meeting with Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and is now preparing for further talks with him to discuss the killer's upcoming release.

"Common sense has to prevail," Ms Parkes said.

"We are deeply concerned for the family, Jo's friends and women in general because quite frankly he is not fit to be out.

"He is a cruel person... he showed no remorse whatsoever for killing Jo."

Carrie Johnson (left), Joanna Simpson's mother Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton (right) met for the launch of Ms Parkes' campaign to prevent Brown's early release

Recalling the day she was told that her daughter could not be found, Ms Parkes said she immediately thought Brown had killed her.

It took five days before Ms Simpson's body was found.

"We were living in the hope that maybe somewhere she was just hurt or maybe locked up or something," Ms Parkes said.

She said Ms Simpson's two children "heard her being killed".

'Worst day of my life'

It was then Ms Parkes who had to tell them about their mother's death.

"It was the worst day of my life obviously. It was terrible," she said.

Ms Parkes said she felt angry when she realised what had happened to her daughter.

"I was cross, very cross. I just couldn't believe anybody could do that," she said.

Her interview comes as Ms Simpson's story will feature in a Netflix documentary "When Missing Turns to Murder" that is due to be released on Wednesday.