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'KILLER REVENGE'

Joanna Simpson’s killer will want revenge on my family if he’s released from prison, her mum fears

TRAGIC Joanna Simpson's killer will "seek revenge" on their family if he's released from prison, her mum fears.

Mum Diana Parkes warned they will be put at risk and he will blame them ahead of a crunch meeting with the new Justice Secretary to beg to keep him locked up.

Victim Joanna Simpson was killed by Robert Brown
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Victim Joanna Simpson was killed by Robert BrownCredit: Dan Charity
Mum Diana Parkes warned the family will be put at risk if Brown is released
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Mum Diana Parkes warned the family will be put at risk if Brown is releasedCredit: Dan Charity

Sick Robert Brown killed his estranged wife at their family home before dumping their body in a pre-dug grave back in 2010.

But he was acquitted of murder and has only served a 13-year sentence for manslaughter - and is due to be released in November.

The family will meet with the new Justice Secretary to beg him to use powers to intervene to keep him locked up for longer.

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, Joanna's mother, Diana Parks, said: "I'm very grateful that he's agreed to meet us and I just really hope that we can get through to him that Brown is not fit to be released, and that he should stay in prison for as long as possible.

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"I am very concerned about his release because he will seek revenge.

"He will blame everybody else but himself for what he did.

"Jo's friends, my family and women in general will be in danger because he has lost everything that he had."

Joanna's friend, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who is also chairwoman of domestic abuse charity, Refuge, said that Mr Chalk was the "one man on the planet" who can stop her friend's killer from being released.

She added: "With manslaughter in the determinate sentence, which is what Robert Brown got, they get given a sentence but they are entitled to be let out halfway through - now two thirds of the way through.

"And that's the problem, there is no protection for the public.

"What we're trying to do is leverage the changes that came in last year, which gives one man on this planet the ability to stop this from happening and that is Alex (Chalk).

"Previous Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he would look carefully at the case later this year when it comes back - but he was forced to quit last month after a bullying probe found he had intimidated staff.

The said: "The Lord Chancellor understands the anguish Mrs Parkes and Ms Barkworth-Nanton feel at the prospect of Robert Brown's release and has invited them to meet with him before he considers this case later in the year."

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