Killer who buried his victim in Windsor Great Park will not be automatically released

A killer who bludgeoned his wife to death and buried her in Windsor Great Park will not be automatically released from prison, it has been confirmed.

Robert Brown received a 26-year prison sentence in 2011 for clubbing partner Joanna Simpson, 46, to death with a claw hammer at their home in Buckhurst Road, Ascot.

The couple had been going through divorce proceedings and Joanna had been the victim of coercive control and intimidation during their marriage.

Brown drove the couple’s children, who had been cowering in a spare room, to his girlfriend’s house before disposing of Joanna in a makeshift grave on Crown Estate land.

Though cleared of murder, Brown admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and given 26 years.

He was automatically eligible for release next month, causing friends and family to call for the Government to block Brown’s release in March.

But Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk has now blocked Brown’s automatic release and referred this case to the parole board.

“Joanna Simpson was bludgeoned and buried at the hands of Robert Brown, which left two children without a mother and caused irreparable harm to her family and loved ones,” Mr Chalk said.

“I made a commitment to Joanna’s family that I would give this case my closest personal attention.

“Having reviewed all the information available to me, I have blocked Brown’s automatic release and referred this case to the parole board using powers we introduced to protect the public from the most dangerous offenders.”

The parole board can make a decision about whether or not Brown is too dangerous for release.

As yet, it is unknown when a decision will be made.