Jack Shepherd: who is the speedboat killer, where is he now, and what happened to Charlotte Brown?

The first half of two-part documentary The Speedboat Killer: The Killing of Charlotte Brown will air on ITV2 on 13 December.

It’s set to cover the much-publicised extradition and trial of Jack Shepherd, dubbed ‘the speedboat killer’ by the press, after the death of Charlotte Brown in 2015.

Here is everything you need to know about the documentary - and the tragedy behind it.

Who is Jack Shepherd and where is he now?

Jack Shepherd, dubbed “the Speedboat Killer” by the British press, is the focus of a new documentary on ITV2.

In December 2015 he was responsible for the death of Charlotte Brown after they met for a date which ended in a speedboat accident.

Shepherd, now 33, was put on trial for manslaughter, but fled the country before he had to appear at the Old Bailey. He was later found in Georgia, and subsequently extradited back to the UK.

He is currently in prison serving a charge for manslaughter. Earlier this year his sentence was reduced.

What happened to Charlotte Brown?

Shepherd, 28 at the time, and Brown, 24, were on a date, having met for the first time earlier that night. At his invitation, they went for a late-night boat trip on the River Thames in London.

The boat struck a submerged tree near Wandsworth Bridge and overturned.  Though Shepherd was found clinging to the capsized hull of the boat, Brown was unconscious when first responders arrived.

An initial post-mortem found that Brown had died of sudden cold-water immersion. This is when the immediate shock of the cold causes sudden involuntary inhalation, leading to drowning. It is one of the most common causes of accidental deaths among adults.

It was initially understood as a tragic accident, but over the course of the trial more evidence was uncovered and Shepherd was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Where did Jack Shepherd go?

Shepherd fled the country ahead of his trial at the Old Bailey, but in his absence, he was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison.

He went to Georgia, and spent six months living in the capital city, Tbilisi. During  this time Shepherd continued to work as a freelance web developer.

Eventually, the media reported on his whereabouts and Shepherd handed himself in to the local authorities.

He was escorted back to the UK by police officers and sentenced to a further six months in prison for breaking bail.

However, last year his sentence was reduced after judges decided that the 78 days Shepherd spent in custody while awaiting extradition from Georgia should count as time served.

Who appears in the documentary?

The ITV2 documentary will feature interviews with Charlotte Brown’s family and close friends, providing first-hand testimony about the tragic events of December 2015, as well as their subsequent media campaign to have Shepherd returned to the UK.

What time is it on and how can I watch it?

The first part of the documentary is on at 9pm Monday 13 December on ITV2, with the second half to follow at the same time on 14 December.

Both instalments will be available on ITV Hub as well.