‘Speedboat killer’ will be brought back to Britain
SPEEDBOAT killer Jack Shepherd will be returned to Britain after telling a court that he will not fight his removal from Georgia.
Shepherd yesterday appeared at a court hearing in Tbilisi, where a judge confirmed that he would be extradited to Britain within the coming days.
The 31-year-old – who had previously vowed to fight extradition – fled to Georgia in March 2018 after he was charged with killing Charlotte Brown, 24, in a speedboat crash on the River Thames whilst on an alcohol-fuelled date. He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to six years’ jail for manslaughter by gross negligence. Despite being on the run, Shepherd won the right to appeal against his conviction.
Shepherd told the court that he would not fight extradition because he “wished to participate in the appeal process and to be reunited with those I love – my family, my son”.
The father-of-one has previously claimed his life would be in danger if he had to serve his sentence in Britain.
Miss Brown’s family urged Shepherd to abandon the appeal. Her parents, Graham Brown and Roz Wickens, have described how his decision to abscond had only compounded their grief.
Mr Brown told The Telegraph: “We are pleased that the court process in Georgia is nearly completed, and that Jack Shepherd has agreed to return to the UK. He can hopefully now show some small remorse by accepting responsibility, atoning for actions and not going forward with his appeal which causes more anguish to us.”