Thames speedboat killer Jack Shepherd launches appeal – despite going on-the-run
Jack Shepherd, 30, has been in hiding since he was found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown
A SHAMELESS web designer who killed his date in a speedboat crash on the Thames has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence - despite being on the run.
Jack Shepherd, 30, has been in hiding since he was found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown.
He failed to attend his July trial and was sentenced to six years in jail in his absence at the Old Bailey, having skipped bail.
An arrest warrant was issued while Ms Brown's family called for him to face justice and The Sun has put up a £10,000 reward.
But today the Court of Appeal official confirmed Shepherd's lawyers had lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Scotland Yard has confirmed the missing defendant was "still outstanding".
On whether Shepherd had fled the country, a spokesman said: "We are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.";
Ms Brown died in December 2015 after being thrown from Shepherd's speeding boat during a champagne-fuelled late-night jaunt past the Houses of Parliament.
The court heard Shepherd had met Ms Brown on a dating website and had been trying to impress her at the end of their first date at the Shard.
After handing her the controls, the boat hit a submerged log and capsized, sending Ms Brown into the cold water.
Shepherd was rescued, having been found clinging to the upturned hull, while his date was recovered unconscious.
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC told jurors it was "sheer madness" to take the boat out that night.
Lawyer protect him
By Adam Bennett
JACK Shepherd will be granted an appeal only under “extreme exceptional circumstances”.
He was in intermittent contact with counsel throughout the trial and his fate now lies with a Court of Appeal judge who will decide whether his appeal will be allowed to go ahead.
For an on-the-run criminal to appeal his conviction is almost unheard of in British law. The fugitive’s whereabouts are protected by his lawyers, Tuckers Solicitors, who have a professional duty of confidentiality.
To appeal, the defence counsel must believe there was a serious error of law during trial which could undermine the conviction.
Andrew Katzen, partner at criminal law firm Hickman and Rose, said: “This is pretty unusual.
“The court of appeal will only deal with it where there have been exceptional circumstances.”
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Jurors heard that life jackets had been tucked away, the kill cord was not connected, and the boat had a number of defects including faulty steering.
The defendant, who lived on a houseboat in Hammersmith and was originally from Exeter, had denied manslaughter.
He had informed his lawyers before the trial he did not plan to attend but continued to be in contact with them throughout.
At his sentencing, Shepherd's lawyer Stephen Vullo QC said his client could not face the Brown family in the dock and his decision not to come was "cowardice".
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