Speedboat killer had child before he went on the run
A GLOBAL manhunt has been launched for a womaniser who was yesterday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for killing his date in a speedboat crash.
Jack Shepherd did not turn up for his manslaughter trial at the old Bailey and has been on the run since March.
Yesterday it emerged that the web designer, 30, got married shortly after the death of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown and went on to father a child. the marriage to a childhood friend broke down because of his drinking.
now police have launched an international manhunt to bring him to justice.
Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Christopher Davis said officers are speaking to his friends and family, visiting different addresses and working with various agencies to find his whereabouts.
‘We have had indications but it would be wrong to speculate at this time but we are open to the fact he may be in or out of the country,’ he said.
Shepherd, who is originally from essex, was also criticised by his own barrister.
Stephen Vullo QC said: ‘He could not have faced the Brown family from the dock and it’s cowardice he could not do so.’
at his trial, jurors were told how he had been ‘showing off’ to Miss Brown in December 2015 after meeting her on dating website okCupid. He took her for a champagne-fuelled spin on the thames in his speedboat – which he had bought to seduce women – after a boozy first date at the Shard skyscraper.
But after speeding past the Palace of Westminster just before midnight, the vessel hit a log and flipped over. Miss Brown, who was steering, died after being pulled from the river.
Shepherd denied manslaughter by gross negligence but was found guilty on thursday. In a statement, Miss Brown’s mother roz Wickens said: ‘I want Jack Shepherd to know that when he’s enjoying himself with his family, I in fact am not enjoying myself and never will.
‘also, if it was a dreadful accident, as he has claimed, why hasn’t he explained what happened that night and at least sent his condolences.
‘the fact is, if Charlotte had not met him she would still be alive today.’
Judge richard Marks QC said Shepherd had a ‘totally cavalier attitude to safety’.
‘I’m satisfied that at the time of the collision the boat was being driven in excess of the speed limit although I cannot be certain of the extent to which that was the case,’ he said.
Jurors were told lifejackets had been tucked away and the boat had a number of defects, including faulty steering.
Shepherd bought the 14ft fletcher arrowflyte Gto from Gumtree to ‘pull women’.
In the months before the tragedy, he had entertained up to ten women on the 1980s model.
During that time, he had been caught speeding by marine police more than once and advised on the importance of water safety.
a previous date, amy Warner, said she felt so uncomfortable aboard the vessel she asked Shepherd to slow down and then got a taxi home.