The Bizarre Case Of The Speedboat Killer

[naomi24]

Jack Shepherd skipped the country and, in his absence, was sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown who died when the speedboat the couple were in overturned. He claims she was driving. If that’s true, why run?

He has now handed himself in at a police station in Georgia and seems totally unconcerned.

What do you make of it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-46984333

[DTCwordfan]

even if she was driving, he owned the boat and it was proven to be in awful condition, hence manslaughter.....

[DTCwordfan]

I think the question is whether the Brown father had undue influence on the case getting to court as he is a big noise in the Home Office, I understand (something on the Beeb Breakfast TV this morning about this, this morning).

[jno]

perhaps he thinks Britain will be unable to extradite him? I don't know what provision is in place for retrieving people from Georgia.

[Canary42]

It does seem odd that he skipped the country before his trial. Certainly made the resulting guilty verdict seem right. But then in his absence his lawyer gained him the right of appeal, so that maybe why he surfaced. It is a curious case, and from reports (always questionable of course) he doesn't seem a very nice chap.

[naomi24]

DTC. I heard that this morning too. I don't know if it's true or whether it's just what Shepherd is claiming.

[Canary42]

/// he thinks Britain will be unable to extradite him?///

I understand we can as we have an agreement with them, but will take some time (unlike if it had been a EU country when it would have been a lot faster I believe).

[choux]

Considering the seriousness of the charge I am surprised that the judge granted him unconditional bail.

[ladybirder]

Is this the chap who has been granted Legal Aid?

[ToraToraTora]

it's been known all along she was driving but the charge is the same as he let her take the controls knowing she hadn't a clue.

[Patsy33]

Feel so sad for the Brown family. He seems very sure of himself. I think someone of highstanding has advised him..

[New Judge]

"Considering the seriousness of the charge I am surprised that the judge granted him unconditional bail."

Although there are some extra considerations where the defendant is charged with murder, the seriousness of the charge is not among the criteria when deciding whether bail should be granted or not. The Bail Act says that there is a general right to bail unless "...the court is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that the defendant, if released on bail (whether subject to conditions or not) would—

(a) Fail to surrender to custody, or

(b) Commit an offence while on bail, or

(c) Iinterfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or any other person.

Before the decision to refuse bail is made the court must be satisfied that one of the risks above the risk exists and that no bail conditions are appropriate to obviate the risk. Note that the court must have "substantial grounds" for believing that one of the risks are present and not simply a hunch. In the case of absconding the court must have evidence that (say) he has failed to answer bail in the past and that failure is likely to be repeated.

[youngmafbog]

Much as this man appears to me to be a despicable specimen with all the twisting and agenda's of the MSM these days it is difficult to know.

What does seem strange to me is that it appears the CPS didnt want to press charges but the father being some big swinging dick in the home office got that overruled. If true that is very wrong and needs investigated. The law should be equal not based on who you know.

" If that’s true, why run? "

If what they are saying about the father is true I think I would have run too. It would appear there would be no saftely in the UK for me with a father in clearly a senior position seeking revenge.

Of course, we dont know the truth, but that is why there needs to be an independent (preferably from another country) investigation into this. Something is ringing alarm bells for me.

[Canary42]

/// it appears the CPS didn't want to press charges ///

That the bit which seems peculiar to me - perhaps they had been pressurised by "a big dick", but the father's is bigger !

[lindapalmara]

This man is a nasty piece of work. He also has a lawyer working for him in Georgi. Looks like a Page 3 model! Leave him there. He can rot in Georgia's jail. Ours are like a 5 star hotel compared to theirs.

[bluemoon1]

Just out of interest, what would his sentence have been had it been a car on a road, not a boat on a river?

[Pyxis]

QUOTE
bluemoon1
Just out of interest, what would his sentence have been had it been a car on a road, not a boat on a river?UNQUOTE

My thoughts exactly. Supposing he had been in a car and let a complete novice take the wheel? I think he would have been liable for any ensuing accident, especially if he had been drinking.

I have no idea what the rules are for driving boats on rivers. Can you be drunk in charge of a speedboat? Does anyone know?

[ToraToraTora]

I think you can be as Oliver as you like in charge iof a private boat.

[Canary42]

Seems he will fight the extradition on the grounds of having received death threats.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/speedboat-killer-jack-shepherd-says-life-danger-returned-uk-105250756.html

[mushroom25]

it'll be a poor day for justice if his extradition is denied because he might get trolled on twitter...

[DTCwordfan]

From the Royal Yachting Assoc.

Merchant Shipping Act 1995
Boaters may be prosecuted under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 if their actions on the water are seen to be endangering other vessels, structures or individuals and they are under the influence of alcohol.

Harbour byelaws
Locally, most harbour authorities have harbour byelaws under which they can prosecute if boaters are found to be under the influence of alcohol when in charge of a vessel. The RYA encourages harbour authorities to enforce those rules.