Family hope that Shepherd’s appeal against his conviction will be dismissed
Jack Shepherd, 31 has appeared at the Old Bailey and been sentenced to six months in prison for failing to appear. Shepherd was sentenced in his absence to six years’ imprisonment after he was convicted at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 26 July 2018 of manslaughter by gross negligence. The six months for failing to appear will be consecutive to the six years in prison for manslaughter. He was arrested at Gatwick Airport after arriving from Georgia at 9.22pm on Wednesday, 10 April. Shepherd has been subject to an International Arrest Warrant on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service, relating to the death of Charlotte Brown in the River Thames in 2015. He was detained by authorities in Georgia on 23 January 2019. In a statement read outside of court, Charlotte’s family said: “As a family, we are relieved that Shepherd is now back in the country and commencing his prison sentence. It is a step closer to justice for Charli. “Shepherd has continued to prolong our agony, making wild accusations against our family and the events of the fateful night in December 2015, which are inconsistent to Shepherd’s own police interview and testimonies given during the manslaughter trial. “Shepherd claims that Charli took control of his boat and was driving when it crashed on the Thames, this is based solely on his word, and is contradictory to eyewitness testimony. “During his time on the run in Georgia, both he and his legal team have stated various versions of events and accusations that are simply untrue, and due to the reckless and negligent actions of Shepherd, isn’t here to defend herself. “Charli will never be returned to us, whereas Shepherd can continue his life with his family once he serves his sentence. He has not shown any real remorse or accountability for his actions, accusing Charli of being responsible for her own death as recently as this week. His lack of respect and decency continues to astound us. “We hope that Shepherd’s appeal against his conviction will be dismissed and, as a family, we can continue to fight for a change in the laws on our waterways.
