Yahoo News Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd wins right to appeal conviction despite being on the run
A killer who let a woman drown on a first date in a speedboat tragedy has won the right to appeal his conviction despite being on the run.
Jack Shepherd, 31, was convicted of manslaughter last July and jailed for six years over the death of Charlotte Brown, 24, after his boat flipped over at high speed on the River Thames in London.
Shepherd, who skipped his trial, was drunk at the time and had not maintained his boat, which had no lifejackets to hand.
He has not served one day of his sentence because he absconded before the start of his trial at the Old Bailey.
However, he was able to instruct his lawyers to lodge papers at the Court of Appeal. He is believed to have fled somewhere abroad.
Miss Brown’s father, Graham, 55, said Shepherd’s appeal was “incredible, absurd and disgusting”.
He told the Daily Mail: “We all know what happened on the Thames and at the trial, but he’s still sticking two fingers up.
“We thought this absurd appeal would be thrown out immediately.
“We don’t know when the court date is yet, but I’ll be going to it for sure. The idea that he could get his sentence reduced while he’s still on the run is incredible.”
Mr Brown he will raise the issue during a planned meeting with home secretary Sajid Javid in a few weeks.
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“I’ll also be asking why Shepherd is still at large, what resources are being put into finding him, and whether representations are being made to countries where he may be,” he added.
The trial heard that Shepherd, from Exeter, called for help for himself but did not say Miss Brown, from Clacton, Essex, was in the water after his boat capsized during the couple’s first date in December 2015.
It had crashed near Wandsworth Bridge after speeding past the Houses of Parliament at more than double the 12-knot limit.
Miss Brown died after being pulled unconscious from the river. Shepherd was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Mr Brown said police had revealed Shepherd is in hiding abroad but would give no further information.
He said: “They told us initially that he’d flown to Georgia, but I think that was a red herring he’d told relatives and associates so they’d tell the police.
“It says a lot about the legal system that his legal team can be working to get him an appeal, but don’t seem so good at telling him to hand himself in, or revealing his whereabouts.
“It’s disgusting. There’s no shadow of doubt in my mind that he must have people supporting him. How could he live abroad for six months without any income? He’s getting help from somebody.
“Some people know where he is and have chosen not to say.”
Shepherd married his fiancée two months after killing Miss Brown, who he was dating behind her back. It was reported that she is raising their child alone.
According to the European Convention on Human Rights, being on the run from justice is no bar to mounting an appeal.
