Simpering speedboat killer Jack Shepherd today launched his brazen attempt to resist extradition to the UK saying there is 'no evidence' he is guilty and claiming he could be murdered in a British jail.
Shepherd, 31, is in the dock of a Georgian court today where a judge was told it will be at least three months until he can be brought back to the UK to face justice.
And in extraordinary scenes the speedboat killer claimed that the British jury that convicted him of killing Charlotte Brown made a mistake because they didn't hear his defence - even though he had chosen to go on the run to avoid his Old Bailey trial.
Two days after he grinned as he was arrested in Tblisi, the court heard that he had entered the country in March last year after travelling via Turkey.
The convict has been wanted for ten months and spent his time in Georgia learning to ski, hanging out in glitzy bars and clubs and dating new women, despite having a wife back home.
As Britain started extradition proceedings this morning Shepherd told the judge: 'I want to tell the truth', adding: ‘The decision to go out on the boat is my greatest regret. Not a single day passes when I don’t think about the loss of Charlotte’s life'.
He said he has depression and is an alcoholic, and said: 'I wish I’d sat down with Charlotte’s family and explained what happened. I know it’s caused them even more suffering and that’s why I handed myself in to draw to a close this horrible accident and the terrible consequences.'
But his three lawyers, costing him up to £15,000, argued he should not be extradited because he claims to have received a phone call telling him he could be murdered if he goes to a UK jail.
Shepherd's defence uses the 'humanity' clause of European Convention rules that block extraditing a criminal if their life might be in danger.
The Foreign Office’s legal team said today he must not be granted bail because there is evidence he 'will flee again' with Indonesia or Thailand his planned destination.
Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd is in the dock of a Georgian court today as Britain started extradition proceedings and told the judge: 'I want to tell the truth'
Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd (left today) is paying up to £15,000 to Georgian lawyers to fight extradition to Britain – while still claiming legal aid - after his arrest
Shepherd speaks to his lawyer Mariam Kublashvili – who once starred on the Georgian version of Strictly Come Dancing – suggested he had ‘every right to fight’ extradition
Shepherd is paying up to £15,000 to Georgian lawyers to fight extradition to Britain – while still claiming legal aid.
Scotland Yard detectives last night faced questions about why they failed to act when Jack Shepherd’s wife told them at least six months ago that he was in Georgia.
When he did not appear for his Old Bailey trial, officers told Charlotte Brown’s family they questioned Shepherd’s wife about his whereabouts and were told he had travelled to the former Soviet republic.
Officials in Georgia’s interior ministry insisted the first they knew of the fugitive was last Monday, when the Metropolitan Police made an official request for help.
It is now known that Shepherd had been hiding in Georgia since March 21 last year after arriving in the capital Tbilisi at 3.31am. But it emerged last night that Scotland Yard did not ask for an international arrest warrant until January 11.
On that date the force contacted the National Crime Agency for the first time about the case and asked it to place a ‘red letter’ alert with Interpol. This means the earliest that Georgia or any other country would have been officially notified about the fugitive would have been that day. Sources say it is highly unlikely that the Scotland Yard officers in the case would have been allowed to go to Georgia to catch Shepherd.
Forces in the UK have to seek permission from the appropriate authorities in other countries before they are allowed to travel for investigative purposes. This can be a lengthy and complicated bureaucratic process, taking many months before the relevant permission is granted.
Even relatively simple requests such as getting criminal records, fingerprints or intelligence from foreign judicial authorities can take a long time with countries outside the European Union.
Last night a Met Police spokesman said officers had been working with the CPS to get on an Interpol red letter since Shepherd’s conviction.
The spokesman added: ‘It is obviously a very complex legal process.’
She refused to say when officers received information that he was in Georgia.
The fugitive sparked outrage by taking thousands of pounds in UK taxpayers’ money to fund an appeal against his conviction for manslaughter while on the run.
It has emerged that he is continuing to get legal aid in Britain – while privately paying for two top Georgian lawyers, including a glamorous former model who appeared on Georgia's version of Strictly.
Today Shepherd is facing Georgian judge Roman Khorova, and first spoke in English to confirm his name, date of birth and that he entered the country in March last year.
His victim Charlotte Brown’s father Graham said last night: ‘He’s a man who has clearly stuck two fingers up to the judiciary and legal system, and has no respect for the law.
‘It sounds like he’s been living his life to the full out in Georgia, while my daughter is dead and he is responsible.’
Among other developments:
- Theresa May praised the Daily Mail’s campaign to bring the killer to justice – and pledged to press for his speedy return to Britain;
- Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s Georgian counterpart, Giorgi Gakharia, promised to do his best ‘to resolve the issue as soon as possible’;
- Shepherd’s local lawyer Mariam Kublashvili – who once starred on the Georgian version of Strictly Come Dancing – suggested he had ‘every right to fight’;
- The killer’s stepmother, Hannelore Shepherd, 78, said she was ‘not happy at all’ about him being ‘blamed for everything’ over Miss Brown’s death;
- It emerged that the fugitive has been skiing, wining and dining women and living it up in nightclubs while on the run.
Miss Brown, 24, died when Shepherd’s ageing speedboat flipped on the Thames while he was showing off on their first date in December 2015.
He was jailed in his absence for six years for her manslaughter at the Old Bailey last July – but only handed himself in to the authorities in Georgia on Wednesday.
Miss Kublashvili met Shepherd tonight and said afterwards: ‘Everyone knows he is not a killer. But there is a question: we know there was an incident that happened, but who was guilty of this accident? He was not at the wheel.
‘We may request not to extradite Jack Shepherd. We do not have the right documentation yet so we are not quite ready to speak about whether we will or not.’
Shepherd’s other Georgian lawyer, Tariel Kakabadze, added: ‘We just need to study the case documents and I need to discuss it with my client before making the final decision about it.
‘As a lawyer, I have to agree each step with my client.
‘If the extradition happens, it is important to make sure there will not be a danger to him in the UK. If I get assurances that his extradition is not dangerous, we might not disagree with extradition. Each step will be decided after we carefully study all the possibilities and options.’
Jack Shepherd (right) was convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown (left) during a speedboat date on the Thames
He is continuing to get legal aid in Britain – while privately paying for two top Georgian lawyers, including a glamorous former model. He looks a different man having grown a thick beard during his time on the run. He is pictured at the Old Bailey in 2016
One of Georgia’s most senior judges said Shepherd’s legal bill for the extradition hearings could reach £15,000.
Levan Meskhoradze, the country’s judge at the European Court of Human Rights, said: ‘Normally, extradition cases are expensive. This is a very complicated case and normally people who are extradited need to have a very well-qualified lawyer in our country. The bill could reach £10,000 or even £15,000.’
Shepherd has so far received £93,000 in British legal aid, which paid for his defence at the Old Bailey trial. He will receive more public money for his legal bill for his forthcoming appeal.
All the money will go to his UK lawyers, and will not be used to fund his extradition case in Georgia.
His victim’s father said: ‘Hearing that Shepherd is paying for his own lawyer in Georgia just makes me ask – how on earth is he entitled to legal aid in Britain?’
Mr Brown, 55, said those in charge of legal aid rules should be making inquiries into how the killer has been able to support himself while on the run for ten months. The civil servant added: ‘Shepherd has got £15,000 for legal fees, living costs on top – clearly he’s got an income from somebody. But he surely hasn’t told the legal aid people about that income, or his new address in Tbilisi – and both of those are a requirement.’
The speedboat (pictured above) owned by Jack Sheperd, who was found guilty of killing Charlotte Brown
Shepherd won the right to appeal his original conviction while on the run under European human rights law. Officials say there was nothing in the legal aid rulebook to stop him. MPs, the current and former Solicitor Generals, and members of the public have demanded action to end the abuse of taxpayers’ money.
Experts fear Shepherd’s Georgian lawyers could use every legal trick in the book to delay or stop him being flown back to Britain.
The killer is due to appear in court this morning in the capital Tbilisi, and has apparently vowed to battle for his freedom.
There is even a slim chance he could be freed on bail today, pending a full extradition hearing, Georgian legal experts said.
Shepherd fled to Georgia after he was allegedly involved in the glassing of a barman in a Devon hotel.
Friends said war hero David Beech remained severely affected after being hit in the face last year at the White Hart Hotel in Dartmoor, Devon.
December 8 2015: Jack Shepherd and Charlotte Brown meet for a date where he takes her to the Shard for dinner, before taking a taxi back to Shepherd's home, a houseboat in Hammersmith, where they took champagne on board his speedboat for their ride past parliament.
March 2018: Shepherd was charged with GBH following an incident in which he allegedly knocked a barman unconscious with a vodka bottle in a pub while 'blind drunk'. He then failed to appear at a hearing for that case at the Old Bailey regarding Miss Brown's manslaughter.
July 2018: An international arrest warrant is issued for Shepherd
July 26 2018: Shepherd, despite being absent from court was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence
July 27 2018: Shepherd is sentenced to six years' imprisonment – Shepherd's wife is then said to have told police that the 33-year-old had travelled to Georgia.
January 22 2019: Family of Charlotte meet with Savid Javid before making a television appeal for Shepherd to 'do the right thing'
January 23 2019: Shepherd hands himself in to police in Georgia
The senseless attack on Mr Beech was captured on CCTV and immediately reported to Devon and Cornwall Police. Shepherd was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm but went on the run.
The Crown Prosecution Service has promised to ensure that Shepherd goes before a court over the attack. Before being clapped in handcuffs this week, Shepherd gave a breath-taking interview to Georgian TV in which he blamed Miss Brown for her death, claiming she was at the helm of the boat when the accident happened – despite an Old Bailey jury ruling he was responsible as the master of the defective vessel.
The killer tried to justify going on the run with a hurtful broadside at Mr Brown, saying he was scared of his supposed ‘influence’ as a civil servant in the prison service. Mr Brown said yesterday that he was semi-retired, and it was a ridiculous suggestion.
Last night Mrs May’s spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister commends the Daily Mail for its work to highlight this case. It is now essential the judicial process is completed in the UK as soon as possible.’
During a phone call with Mr Javid yesterday, Georgia’s minister of internal affairs Mr Gakharia promised to do his best ‘to resolve the issue as soon as possible’. Scotland Yard said it was aiming to ‘swiftly’ get Shepherd extradited.
But experts said it might not be so simple, and could take weeks even if he does not fight the process.
British extradition lawyer Thomas Gardner, of Gherson Solicitors, said: ‘Were (Shepherd) to consent to his return, he could be back in the UK in a matter of weeks. But in the event that he contests, the matter could take a considerable period of time.’
