Jack Shepherd (pictured in police interview) is still on the run – but he is appealing his manslaughter conviction after the speedboat crash that killed his date last year
A man found guilty of killing his date during a horror speedboat crash on the River Thames is appealing his conviction – despite being on the run.
Jack Shepherd, 30, has been in hiding since he was found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Charlotte Brown, 24 in July.
Shepherd failed to attend his trial and was sentenced to six years in jail in his absence at the Old Bailey, having skipped bail.
An arrest warrant was issued while Ms Brown’s devastated family called for him to face justice.
On Thursday, a Court of Appeal official confirmed Shepherd’s lawyers had lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Scotland Yard has confirmed the missing defendant was ‘still outstanding’.
Asked whether Shepherd had fled the country, a spokesman said: ‘We are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.’
Shepherd was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after Charlotte Brown (pictured), 24, died following their date on his speedboat down the River Thames
Ms Brown died in December 2015 after being thrown from Shepherd’s speeding boat during a champagne-fuelled late-night jaunt past the Houses of Parliament.
The court heard Shepherd had met Ms Brown on a dating website and had been trying to impress her at the end of their first date at the Shard.
After handing her the controls, the boat hit a submerged log and capsized, sending Ms Brown into the cold water.
Shepherd was rescued, having been found clinging to the upturned hull, while his date was recovered unconscious.
This was the speedboat used by Jack Shepherd which capsized on the river Thames in December 2015 leading to the death of Charlotte Brown
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC told jurors it was ‘sheer madness’ to take the boat out that night.
Jurors heard that life jackets had been tucked away, the kill cord was not connected, and the boat had a number of defects including faulty steering.
The defendant, who lived on a houseboat in Hammersmith and was originally from Exeter, had denied manslaughter.
He had informed his lawyers before the trial he did not plan to attend but continued to be in contact with them throughout.
At his sentencing, Shepherd’s lawyer Stephen Vullo QC said his client could not face the Brown family in the dock and his decision not to come was ‘cowardice’.
Members of Charlotte Brown’s family are pictured outside the Old Bailey during Shepherd’s trial
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