Boat killer Jack Shepherd got £100K in legal aid funded by taxpayers – while he’s still on the run
Jack Shepherd's girlfriend, Charlotte Brown, died after his faulty boat flipped on the Thames in 2015. Since then, the web designer has remained at large despite the manhunt
SPEEDBOAT killer Jack Shepherd got £93,000 in taxpayer-funded legal aid despite skipping his trial and going on the run.
Charlotte Brown, 24, died when his faulty boat flipped at speed on the Thames in London in 2015.
Web designer Shepherd, 30, got six years for manslaughter in July.
He remains at large despite a manhunt and £10,000 Sun reward.
Shepherd appealed the conviction from his hideout, thought to be among expats in the Med.
A Freedom of Information request reveals he got £50,642 towards crown court solicitors’ fees, and £42,650 went to Stephen Vullo QC, who was in contact with Shepherd throughout the trial.
Charlotte’s dad Graham, 52, said: “It’s as if he is sticking two fingers up at us all, and the legal system is there to protect him not us.”
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The Sun Says
SPEEDBOAT killer Jack Shepherd is treating our justice system with contempt.
It is staggering we’re paying for it through Legal Aid.
Politicians continually pay lip service to making changes to the legal aid system, but case after jaw-dropping case continues to come into the public eye.
It’s important that everybody has access to justice, and financial support is a key part of that.
But it cannot be abused.
And it’s hard to imagine a more blatant case of that than dishing it out to a coward who refuses to answer for his crimes.
Mr Brown, from Sidcup, Kent, has also launched a £10,000 claim for civil damages, saying: “It’s not about the money for us. I just want to make life that little bit harder for Shepherd if he ever returns to the UK and tries to get credit.”
Tory David Davies added: “This individual is thumbing his nose at justice.”
Charlotte’s family are campaigning to overhaul waterways laws. Sign the petition at
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