Monday, 20 May 2024

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd WILL be sent back to UK after year on the run – but makes diva prison demands

FUGITIVE speedboat killer Jack Shepherd will be sent back to the UK from Georgia after spending months on the run.

Shepherd, 31, had been found guilty of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown's manslaughter last year – finally handing himself into authorities in the former soviet country in January.


The web designer had fled the UK before his trial that saw him sentenced in his absence to six years in prison.

Shepherd's lawyers today said the 31-year-old had consented to being extradited in order to appeal his manslaughter conviction.

However, the defence team has demanded a string of provisos around his return – including round the clock video and audio surveillance and having his own cell.

Shepherd even wants media to be given access to him in prison, ITV reported.

Shepherd, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, had remained impassive as prosecutors argued at the Tbilisi court there was nothing that should prevent him being taken back to the UK.

But while his defence lawyers claimed that "extradition is unacceptable", they said he agreed to be extradited.

His lawyer Tariel Kakabadze told a judge: “He agrees to be extradited to United Kingdom to participate in his case in the court of appeal.”

The judge ruled this morning that Shepherd would be extradited.

This means Shepherd could return to the UK as early as by Friday.

The order is based on the manslaughter conviction, as well as a separate grievous bodily harm with intent charge related to an incident in Devon in March last year.

Charlotte, 24, was killed when Shepherd's speedboat crashed on the Thames in 2015.

Speaking on Facetime to ITV today, Charlotte's father Graham Brown said he hoped today's hearing would mean his daughter would finally get justice.

He said: "Overall, I think we are pleased that finally it's coming to an end and we seem to be getting the justice we think we deserve for Charlotte."

Shepherd has always maintained his innocence, claiming it was a "tragic accident".

As he handed himself into authorities, the smirking killer said: "I hope justice will prevail and my appeal will be successful so everyone can move forward with their lives."

During the manslaughter trial, the court heard Shepherd's speedboat had defects when it crashed on the Thames during the champagne-fuelled date.

No date has been set yet for Shepherd's appeal hearing.

HOW HE FLED JUSTICE

DECEMBER 8, 2015: Shepherd’s first date with Charlotte ends in tragedy when she dies in speedboat crash.

2016: Shepherd marries his childhood sweetheart and they have a child, according to his lawyers.

MAY 2018: Shepherd tells his lawyers he will not attend his trial.

JULY 2018: Trial held in his absence. He is jailed for six years.

AUGUST 2018: The Sun offers a £10,000 reward to help catch him. Shepherd applies for permission to appeal against conviction.

DECEMBER 1, 2018: The Sun reveals Shepherd got £93,000 of taxpayer-funded legal aid.

DECEMBER 30, 2018: The Sun reveals Shepherd has been granted the right to appeal.

JANUARY 2019: Shepherd turns himself into Georgian authorities after protesting innocence on TV.

TODAY: Shepherd agrees to be extradited back to the UK to fight his sentence

The 31-year-old had previously said he did not want to return to the UK, claiming he had received death threats.

He was held in a special unit in Georgia while waiting for the extradition case to be prepared.

His Georgian lawyer Mariam Kublashvili has said he regretted his decision not to appear at the Old Bailey trial over the 24-year-old woman's death.












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