THE mother of a York millionairess who was bludgeoned to death by her estranged husband claimed there had been a “gross miscarriage of justice” after a jury acquitted him of murder.

British Airways pilot Robert Brown, who used a claw hammer to kill his wife, Joanna, and then buried her body in a pre-prepared grave, was jailed for 26 years yesterday.

He had previously admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was convicted by the jury of obstructing a coroner from holding an inquest into the death of Joanna, who was the daughter of well-known former York builder and property developer, Christopher Simpson, of Badger Hill.

The jury had been told he bundled the former York schoolgirl’s body into the boot of his car and later dumped it in a makeshift coffin in Windsor Great Park.

Joanna’s mother, Diana Parkes, claimed after the hearing: “Robert Brown got away with murder in name only. Jo, my beautiful daughter, was bludgeoned to death by Robert Brown, the mother of his children.” She said she believed Brown had devised a “cunning plan” to convince the jury he was suffering from an abnormality of mind which he used to manipulate the verdict.

Mrs Parkes had told the court during the trial that relatives disliked Brown and had serious misgivings from the outset, while her late father had chillingly predicted the marriage would “end in trouble”.

Judge Mr Justice Cooke told Brown, of Winkfield, Berkshire: “You intended to kill, you intended to conceal the body and to hide the evidence of the killing.

“You never called an ambulance or took her to hospital and in my judgment you never had any intention to do so.

“Indeed you took her body to a remote part of Windsor Great Park in the car and then carried her body and put it into a garden box in a hole that you had dug previously, having left a spade nearby wrapped in tarpaulin.”

He said: “You took extensive steps to ensure that her body would never be found but when it became plain that the evidence was so strong, you directed the police to the site.”

Brown, wearing a suit and tie, looked skywards as sentence was passed and as his wife’s relatives broke down in tears in the public gallery.

The attack last October took place following lengthy rows over divorce proceedings and a contested pre-nuptial agreement which Brown allegedly believed to have been a “stitch-up”.

The killing happened only days after a landmark ruling at the Supreme Court in which judges decided pre-nuptial agreements were binding.

Brown and his 46-year-old wife, Joanna, who is believed to have attended the junior school of the former York College for Girls, in the Red House building near the Minster, had been due to attend the High Court for a final hearing to resolve their own financial disputes when she was killed.

Hours after burying wife, Brown asked to make appointment with police over ‘a domestic issue’

Cool, calm and collected, Robert Brown picked up the phone on the morning after he killed his wife and called police to report a “domestic issue”.

In a measured voice, he told the call handler he wanted to make an “appointment” to come in.

Showing no emotion apart from a reluctance to admit what he had done, he then insisted the matter was of a “serious” nature as the cheerful-sounding call handler suggested checking the police diary to find a convenient time to arrange a meeting.

He started the nine-minute conversation at 8.34am saying simply: “Hello, I would like to make an appointment to come in regarding an incident that occurred yesterday.”

When asked to explain what had happened, he replied:

“I’ve spoken to my lawyer and he said not to say anything so...”

“Can I ask why he said that?” said the police call handler.

Brown answered: “Um, the incident is of a serious nature.”

The call handler replied: “Right, when you say serious, because I need to highlight to the officer how serious it is, can I ask what it is? How serious?”

Brown: “Er, I really don’t want to say anything actually, um...”

Police call handler: “Can I ask why? I mean this is confidential, this is between me and you.”

Brown: “Well, because it’s... well, it’s extremely serious nature and um...”

Police call handler: “I’m assuming that it’s regarding your ex-partner?”

Brown: “Yes.”

Police call handler: “Okay, and the incident has occurred recently?”

Brown: “Yes, yes, last night.”

Police call handler: “Right, and you’re both okay, are you? None of you are harmed at all, are you?”

Brown: “Well, er, one person is.”

Police call handler: “Right, okay. Has that person received any medical attention, do you know? Do they need it?”

Brown: “Er no. Er...”

Police call handler: “And you have got children involved as well?”

Brown: “Yes.”

Brown was then asked for his details and those of his wife, which he gave.

As the conversation concluded, the call handler asked him: “If I am able to get an appointment for you today would that be okay for you?”

It was arranged that he would meet an officer at Windsor police station at 2.35pm.

But long before that, officers discovered spots of blood at Mrs Brown’s home and he was arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Joanna admitted marriage was ‘a mistake’ on her honeymoon

IT was on honeymoon that twice-married Joanna first realised her marriage to Robert Brown had been a mistake.

But when she and the British Airways captain met in South Africa, there was little time to reflect. Swept off her feet by the tall, dark, athletic pilot, Joanna swiftly fell for his charms.

Her first marriage had been to insurance worker Nigel Hancock and had ended childless – despite IVF treatment – after only three years.

A year later, in November 1998, she was caught up in a whirlwind romance and months after meeting she was whisked off to Hong Kong where Brown proposed.

By February they were married. But while on honeymoon in Hong Kong, Joanna called home to confess she had made a “mistake”.

The joys of their jet set existence quickly wore off and despite bearing him two children, Joanna began to see her husband for what he was – an arrogant and controlling man who resented her independent wealth.

In court, his lawyers agreed he was controlling, but they also painted a picture of a doting father who adjusted his punishing long-haul schedule for his son – now 11 – and his daughter, nine.

He took a keen interest in their education and enjoyed taking them cycling and camping and to outsiders, he was a successful and amiable family man, known for his sporting successes.