Jack Shepherd surrendered at a police station in the Georgia capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday, six months after he was convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown during a speedboat date on the River Thames.
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The man convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence of a woman who died in a speedboat crash on the Thames in 2015, may fight the extradition process, his lawyer has confirmed.
Jack Shepherd, 31, surrendered at a police station in the Georgia capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday, six months after he was convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown during a speedboat date on the River Thames in London.
Mr Shepherd was sentenced to six years in prison in his absence after he went on the run before the trial at the Old Bailey began.
The Crown Prosecution Service was preparing an extradition request to be lodged with Georgian legal authorities.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said it is “vital Charlotte Brown’s family see justice done” and UK law enforcement will “seek to swiftly extradite him to Britain”.
But Mr Shepherd’s Georgian lawyer, Tariel Kakabadze, confirmed that the process to extradite him back to the UK may be contested.
He said: “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.”
Shepherd is expected to appear for a short hearing at Tbilisi City Court on Friday.
On Wednesday, a heavily-bearded Shepherd – wearing a long coat, jeans and a check scarf – smiled as he walked into the station from a black car while flanked by lawyers.
In the footage shown on Georgian television station Rustavi2, he vowed to local reporters that he would clear his name over the “tragic accident”.
Speaking to journalists, he said: “Yes, my name is Jack Shepherd. I was involved in a tragic accident … in which a lady called Charlotte Brown tragically died.”
Mr Kakabadze said the prosecutor will demand Shepherd’s arrest before the extradition – and that his arrest has to be confirmed by a judge according to Georgian law.
But he has also suggested it may be “some time” before Shepherd possibly returns to the UK.
Under Georgian law, prosecutors are required to apply for restriction measures for a person wanted in another country within 48 hours of them being arrested.
Victim’s family ‘overwhelmed’
Ms Brown’s family said they were overwhelmed with emotion after it emerged that he had surrendered, and her father said it was time for him to “atone” for his actions.
Graham Brown, her father, posted on Facebook, “Justice for Charlotte is close!”.
Ms Brown, who is from Clacton-on-Sea, died after the speedboat the pair were in flipped in the Thames on 5 December 2015. They were thrown out of the boat at around midnight.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Charlotte Brown’s sister Katie said when the family heard Shepherd had handed himself in they were all “very shocked and relieved”.
“Last night as we saw his TV interview, increasing feelings of anger,” she also said.
“To see him just stroll into the police station smiling and waving it was unbelievable – his arrogance over everything.”
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Headline‘Speedboat killer’ Jack Shepherd might contest extradition request after surrendering to Georgian police
Short HeadlineSpeedboat killer could contest extradition request
StandfirstThe Crown Prosecution Service is seeking to extradite Shepherd quickly after he handed himself into police in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The man convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence of a woman who died in a speedboat crash on the Thames in 2015, may fight the extradition process, his lawyer has confirmed.
Jack Shepherd, 31, surrendered at a police station in the Georgia capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday, six months after he was convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown during a speedboat date on the River Thames in London.
Mr Shepherd was sentenced to six years in prison in his absence after he went on the run before the trial at the Old Bailey began.
The Crown Prosecution Service was preparing an extradition request to be lodged with Georgian legal authorities.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said it is “vital Charlotte Brown’s family see justice done” and UK law enforcement will “seek to swiftly extradite him to Britain”.
But Mr Shepherd’s Georgian lawyer, Tariel Kakabadze, confirmed that the process to extradite him back to the UK may be contested.
He said: “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.”
Shepherd is expected to appear for a short hearing at Tbilisi City Court on Friday.
On Wednesday, a heavily-bearded Shepherd – wearing a long coat, jeans and a check scarf – smiled as he walked into the station from a black car while flanked by lawyers.
In the footage shown on Georgian television station Rustavi2, he vowed to local reporters that he would clear his name over the “tragic accident”.
Speaking to journalists, he said: “Yes, my name is Jack Shepherd. I was involved in a tragic accident … in which a lady called Charlotte Brown tragically died.”
Mr Kakabadze said the prosecutor will demand Shepherd’s arrest before the extradition – and that his arrest has to be confirmed by a judge according to Georgian law.
But he has also suggested it may be “some time” before Shepherd possibly returns to the UK.
Under Georgian law, prosecutors are required to apply for restriction measures for a person wanted in another country within 48 hours of them being arrested.
Victim’s family ‘overwhelmed’
Ms Brown’s family said they were overwhelmed with emotion after it emerged that he had surrendered, and her father said it was time for him to “atone” for his actions.
Graham Brown, her father, posted on Facebook, “Justice for Charlotte is close!”.
Ms Brown, who is from Clacton-on-Sea, died after the speedboat the pair were in flipped in the Thames on 5 December 2015. They were thrown out of the boat at around midnight.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Charlotte Brown’s sister Katie said when the family heard Shepherd had handed himself in they were all “very shocked and relieved”.
“Last night as we saw his TV interview, increasing feelings of anger,” she also said.
“To see him just stroll into the police station smiling and waving it was unbelievable – his arrogance over everything.”
