Killer pilot more dangerous than ever, court is told
A Killer pilot who bludgeoned his estranged wife to death poses a greater threat to the public now than when he was jailed, a court heard yesterday.
Former British Airways pilot robert Brown poses ‘a high risk of serious harm to the general public’ and to any future wife or girlfriend, recent prison assessments found.
He also poses a potential danger to the family and friends of his victim Joanna Simpson, who have led a high-profile campaign to block his automatic early release, the assessment warned.
Brown, 60, claims the blocking of his automatic release by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is ‘unreasonable’ and has launched legal action. He has served 13 years of a 26-year sentence.
Brown’s lawyers told the High Court yesterday his threat to the public was unchanged since he was jailed. But in arguments submitted to the High Court judicial review, barrister iain Steele said: ‘[He] is now considered to indicate a high risk of serious harm to the public. This is an increase [from] the time of sentencing in 2011.’
A risk assessment last year found he posed ‘a high risk of serious harm’ to the general public and a ‘ medium risk of serious harm’ to known adults, particularly the victim’s family and friends, who are all ‘ in great fear of [him]’.
Brown used a claw hammer to kill his wife in their home in 2010 before burying her body.
‘Now considered a high risk’
He was acquitted of murder but admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility, based on a stress- related ‘ adjustment disorder’, diagnosed by a psychiatrist instructed by his lawyers.
A psychiatrist instructed by prosecutors found he was not suffering from an adjustment disorder or any other mental disorder, the court heard yesterday. The hearing continues.