Speedboat killer gives false address in Tbilisi court hearing

A man from Abergavenny who was convicted of killing a woman during a speedboat ride in London has given a judge a false address.

Jack Shepherd, 31, went on the run for 10 months after being convicted of killing Charlotte Brown, 24, during a speedboat ride on the River Thames on their first date.

Shepherd surrendered at a police station in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Wednesday.

Appearing in court earlier, he gave the sitting judge an address which does not exist.

Shepherd used the rest of the hearing to explain to the judge that he would be in danger in a UK jail as he attempted to fight extradition.

His defence claims they have not yet received the full extradition documents and insisted the speedboat crash was an accident, saying Shepherd was only convicted because he owned the boat.

Shepherd's comments will be sent to the Georgian justice ministry, but he will remain in prison in Tbilisi. The prosecutor in the case told the judge there was no demand for a fast-track extradition.

Ahead of the appearance, one of Shepherd's lawyers wrote: "Prosecutor requested Jack Shepherd's urgent extradition according to simplified rules.

"We, Jack Shepherd's defence team are going to fight the request!"

The court appearance comes after the justice secretary said he was "very concerned" about death threats made against Shepherd's lawyer.

David Gauke tweeted: "Very concerned about death threats made against Jack Shepherd's lawyer. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable."

Shepherd is being represented by Richard Egan, who has been sent death threats as he begins defending him.

Mr Egan has been sent a letter, which mentioned stabbing, bombing, the words "Heil Hitler" and a crude drawing of a swastika, according to the BBC.

The letter, which also stated that the sender had followed Mr Egan to his home, has been passed to the police.

Ms Brown died after the speedboat overturned during the night out in December 2015 - and Shepherd was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to six years in prison in his absence.

His disappearance ahead of his trial sparked an international manhunt and Ms Brown's family had warned at the time that "justice is coming".

The Crown Prosecution Service is working on a request to have Shepherd extradited to Britain to face justice over Ms Brown's death.

The CPS said prosecutors were "consulting with the authorities in Georgia to progress our extradition request".

© Sky News 2019