On the run fugitive found guilty of killing Charlotte Brown appeals conviction

BY CALUM FRASER
calum@slpmedia.co.uk

A fugitive who was found guilty of killing a girl in a speedboat crash is appealing against his conviction while on the run.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that Jack Shepherd, who was sentenced to six years for the manslaughter of Welling girl Charlotte Brown, has now lodged appeals against his conviction.

An arrest warrant has been issued, but Shepherd remains at large.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Davis from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We are currently conducting numerous inquiries to find Shepherd and speaking to his friends and family.

“We are keeping an open mind on whether he has left the country.

If anyone knows where Shepherd is, or has any information on his whereabouts, I would ask them to contact police immediately on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“We are fully resolved to ensure that Charlotte’s family get the justice and closure they deserve.

In the trial at the Old Bailey the jury heard that Charlotte, known as Charli, had been on a date with Shepherd at a restaurant in the Shard.

They had downed two bottles of wine before Shepherd invited her on his speedboat, that he said he’d bought to “pull women”.

Charli had messaged her sister before getting on the boat. She said: “Still alive. Waiting for the tide so we can take it out.”

Less than two hours later her body was fished out of the River Thames.

Shepherd had given Charli control of the boat after they had drunk more booze.

Neither of them wore life jackets. The boat hit a piece of floating wood and they were both hurled into the freezing water.

Shepherd was found clinging to the boat. Charli’s unconscious body was pulled from the water and she was pronounced dead at St George’s hospital at 1.55am on December 9, 2015.

Charli’s distraught family are pleading with Shepherd to come out of hiding and face justice.

He has been missing since March this year, where he was last seen in Devon. Charli’s sister Katie Brown said in a statement:

“The immense pain and anguish we feel will never pass and our grief will last a lifetime.

“We now appeal to Jack Shepherd wherever he is in the world to return and assume the responsibility of his guilt and the devastation he caused by his actions that fateful night – we appeal to Jack Shepherd’s family and friends to appeal to him and urge him to face the consequences of his actions.”