No-Show In Court For Man Charged With Wandsworth Speedboat Death

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Charlotte Brown was on a first date when she died

A 30-year-old man who is being tried for manslaughter after a woman was killed in a speedboat accident near Wandsworth bridge, did not turn up for court yesterday this Monday (2 July).

Jack Shepherd from Abergavenny in Wales is accused of the manslaughter of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown, who died when the pair ran into trouble in the speedboat they were using on the night of 8 December 8 2015.

Charlotte, from Finchley, died after the boat capsized near Wandsworth Bridge at Plantation Wharf. Charli, as she liked to be known, was recovered from the water and taken to hospital where she died later that night.

Mr Shepherd was taken out of the river with Charlotte and was discharged from hospital after the incident. It is understood that they were on a first date.


Charlotte 'Charli' Brown

A post-mortem examination of Charli was held on 11 December 2015 at St George's Hospital mortuary and her cause of death was later given as cold water immersion and intoxication.

At the time of the accident police treated Charlotte's death as non-suspicious but in September last year Mr Shepherd was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.

Even though Mr Shepherd failed to turn up for the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey yesterday, a jury was sworn in and proceedings began. Judge Richard Marks explained to the jury that although the defendant had not appeared they must not speculate on his absence and that his absence did not prove guilt.

Miss Brown's parents were in court to see the trial start.


The boat capsized just east of Wandsworth Bridge

July 4, 2018