Grave Evidence – The Murder of Joanna Simpson

The first case in this episode looks at the killing of mother of two, Joanna Simpson. Just days before her divorce from ex-husband, former airline pilot Robert Brown, was due to be finalised, she’s reported missing. With a history of abusive control in the marriage, Joanna’s family and police suspect her ex-husband holds the truth behind her disappearance. But when questioned, he initially refuses to cooperate, before finally leading investigators to her body. He claims they had a fiery argument and her death was a crime of passion committed in the heat of the moment, but the burial site appears to tell a different story.

Investigators call in forensic archaeologist John Hunter, whose analysis of the grave site shows a meticulous level of planning rather than a crude and hurried burial of Joanna’s body – all pointing to a charge of premeditated murder. His evidence was watertight, but Brown claimed diminished responsibility, resulting in a 26-year conviction for manslaughter.

With impactful interviews from Joanna’s mother, Diana Parkes, and her best friend, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton.

The second case looks at the work of cell site and radio frequency analyst Paul Hope. His expertise was sought to help identify the perpetrators in an aggravated robbery in Edinburgh. As two pub workers were attempting to bank their five-figure takings from the business, they were approached, attacked and robbed in the street.

Thanks to eyewitnesses, police were able to identify the car driven by the suspects and find the apartment they were staying in. The robbers were known to police for their criminal histories. After detectives raided their homes, they located some of the stolen cash and gloves that had been worn during the robbery. It was however just circumstantial evidence and not enough to go forward with a charge.

Having identified the car they were driving, police checked ANPR vehicle recognition cameras, but it appeared that along the way the robbers had stolen a number plate and switched it with the one on their vehicle. It was time to bring in Paul Hope, whose expertise in tracking mobile phone data could be used to place the thieves in key locations – where the licence plate was stolen and the scene of the robbery.

Using radio frequency technology, he was able to do just that, and after analysing one of the robber’s phones, detectives identified a fourth ‘inside man’ who worked at the pub the takings were from, and he too was arrested. All four were found guilty and given prison sentences