Jack Shepherd latest: Charlotte Brown’s family describe 'relief' after speedboat killer loses appeal

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Shepherd, 31, was jailed for six years over the death of the 24-year-old, who was thrown from his boat during a drunken night-time trip along the River Thames.

The boat capsized after hitting a submerged tree trunk during their first date in December 2015.

Ms Brown died after being tossed into the water in the crash, while Shepherd was rescued after being found clutching to upturned boat’s hull.

Jack Shepherd fled the UK ahead of his trial last year
AFP/Getty Images

The 31-year-old web developer was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, but subsequently appealed against his conviction, claiming a police blunder had rendered his Old Bailey trial unfair.

This was rejected by the Court of Appeal on Thursday.

Speaking outside court after the ruling, Charlotte's twin sister Katie Brown said: "We are relieved as a family that Shepherd's appeal against his manslaughter conviction has been thrown out and justice has prevailed.

Katie (right) and Graham Brown (centre) the sister and father of Charlotte Brown, who was killed in a speedboat accident in 2015.
PA

"My sister Charlie is not here with us today because of Shepherd's negligence and reckless actions.

"He hasn't once shown any remorse or respect to our family, or to the legal system, or to even Charlie."

She told reporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London that the family will now campaign for a change in the laws governing waterways.

She said: "We hope we can now bring this heartbreaking chapter to a close and fight for a change in our waterways and waterways laws for Charlie's legacy."

The speedboat owned by Web designer Jack Shepherd who was found guilty of killing his date, Charlotte Brown
PA

Charlotte's father Graham Brown said: "I think the right decision has been made and as a family we are very relieved that the appeal has not been upheld."

Shepherd's lawyers argued at a hearing last week that his conviction was unsound because of the nature of some of the evidence used against him at his trial.

Excerpts were taken from a recorded police interview, during which he was not cautioned or offered a solicitor because of a "mistake" by police.

Shepherd’s barrister, Stephen Vullo QC, argued the police had failed to formally caution Shepherd or giving him access to a solicitor during the “significant witness” interview , meaning some answers should never have been included in his trial.

Tragic death: Charlotte Brown was killed in the crash
PA

But Sir Brian Leveson, president of the Queen’s Bench Division, ruled that Shepherd’s trial had not been rendered unfair by the use of extracts of the interview, and said the six year sentence must stand.

“Given other independent evidence the prosecution had available to them to support that which was admitted in interview, the admission of the interview didn’t impact unfairly on the trial”, he said.

Shepherd, originally from Exeter, went on the run ahead of his Old Bailey trial and was convicted in his absence in July 2018.

He was later extradited to the UK from Georgia after handing himself in to police in the capital Tbilisi in January.

Jack Shepherd was found guilty in his absence of manslaughter by gross negligence of Charlotte Brown, 24, and was sentenced to six years in prison in Britain.
EPA

Jurors at Shepherd's trial heard that he and Ms Brown, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, had been drinking champagne and went on a late-night jaunt in his boat past the Houses of Parliament.

Shepherd handed the controls to Ms Brown just before it struck the tree trunk and overturned, tipping both of them into the cold water.

He was plucked from the Thames alive, but Ms Brown was found unconscious and unresponsive and died later in hospital.

Following his return from Georgia, Shepherd appeared at the Old Bailey in April and was sentenced to an additional six months for breaching bail.

The Court of Appeal quashed his bail conviction and sentence on Thursday, ruling that it was a "nulity" due to a paperwork error when his extradition was requested.

Shepherd being taken from prison for extradition- from Georgian Prison Service.
Georgian Prison Service

Judge Leveson said the English court had no jurisdiction to deal with the offence, because his extradition was only requested in relation to Ms Brown's manslaughter and a separate charge of wounding with intent, and not for the breach of bail.

However, the judge said Shepherd may still face further proceedings in relation to his "egregious breach" at later date.

Katie Brown said the family found it "difficult to accept" that he had avoided punishment for going on the run because of a technicality.

"During the 10 months he spend on the run in Georgia, Shepherd caused our family further anguish and pain whilst he lived a normal life,” she said.

"Despite all sense and logic, he appears to have been able to abscond without penalty.

"What deterrent is this to other criminals not to do the same?"

Mr Brown said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has indicated that it will bring further proceedings against Shepherd for the bail breach.

He added: "It does seem bizarre to the layman that (Shepherd) has been able to abscond to Georgia without consequence.

"I think it is very important that that bit is looked at and that people should face consequences for not appearing at their trial."

A CPS spokesman said: "Jack Shepherd has sought to evade responsibility for his reckless actions in December 2015, further compounding the grief of his victim's family.

"Today's Court of Appeal ruling should underline beyond doubt how his negligence led directly to Charlotte Brown's death and that the CPS brought the appropriate charge.

"We hope it brings her family some comfort.

"The court also found the Georgian authorities did not specifically consent to Shepherd being dealt with for the Bail Act offence.

"We are now considering our options, including whether consent could be formally obtained."

It comes after Shepherd was jailed for a further four years at Exeter Crown Court earlier this month, after he admitted wounding with intent in relation to a drink-fuelled attack on a barman.

The court heard he struck former soldier David Beech with a vodka bottle on March 16, 2018 after being asked to leave The White Hart Hotel in Newton Abbot, Devon.

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