The family of a woman who died in a speedboat crash on River Thames have expressed their anger that her killer is still on the run.
Charlotte Brown Metropolitan Police
In July, Jack Shepherd was jailed for six years for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, 24, in 2015. However, the trial was held in his absence as he still remains at large.
Graham Brown, Charlotte’s father, has said that he suspects the police have no clue where Mr Shepherd is. The police have just reported him missing and left it according to Mr Brown.
The family have spoken about their anger towards Mr Shepherd and that he has been given permission to appeal against the conviction even though he is nowhere to be found.
Ms Brown’s sister Katie told the BBC the family were “pretty shocked that it’s been allowed to happen”.
“He’s still on the run, he hasn’t served a day of his sentence and he’s been allowed to still be in communication with his lawyers.
“He’s has been able to appeal using legal aid as well,”
Shepherd and Ms Brown met through a dating website called OkCupid. On their first date in December 2015 they had went for dinner at London’s Shard skyscraper before Shepherd took Ms Brown on his speed boat. On mobile phone footage that was filmed during the date Ms Brown could be heard shouting that they were going “so fast” as Shepherd drove at more than double the speed limit for boats.
The speedboat which Shepherd told police was to pull women hit a submerged log and tipped over, it sprung them both into the water. Shepherd was found clinging to the hull but Ms Brown was pulled from the water unconscious and she died in hospital.
In July a jury found Shepherd guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.
His lawyers in mid-May were told by Shepherd that he would not be attending the trial at Old Bailey but the Crown Prosecution Service only found out a week before the trail began. During the trial his defence team said they did not know where he was but his solicitor had maintained telephone contact with him.
Following the conviction police said they believed Shepherd may have flown abroad but say they have no trace of him. His last confirmed sighting is in March 2018. Shepherd has not been using his own bank accounts or mobile phone.
If Shepherd is found in the UK he will be sent straight to custody to start serving his six-year sentence. Shepherd also requested permission to appeal against his sentence, but this was refused by the Court of Appeal.
