Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd may never return to Britain if Georgia wants to be seen to be 'standing up' to the UK, a top barrister warned today.
The Home Office and Sajid Javid are under pressure to secure his extradition 'swiftly' after the 31-year-old handed himself in at a police station in the nation's capital of Tbilisi last night.
Shepherd, 31, is due to appear in court either this afternoon or tomorrow and if everything goes smoothly the extradition is likely to take around two months, meaning he would finally be back behind bars in Britain by March.
But George Hepburne Scott, a leading British barrister in the extradition field, warned that Shepherd may stay in Georgia 'indefinitely' if the country refuses a request from the UK Government to bring him home.
Mr Scott said Georgia could easily decline the request and may want to be seen to 'stand up' to the UK.
Newly-bearded Shepherd was caught on camera smirking when he handed himself in to Georgian police - and later laughed and joked with them as they were forced to Google who he was and why he was on the run.
He was apprehended six months after being convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown during a speedboat date on the Thames.
This morning Miss Brown's grieving sister slammed Shepherd for his 'unbelievable arrogance', while her father broke down in tears as he admitted there was 'overwhelming relief' as the family got a step closer to getting justice for their 'beautiful' daughter.
Jack Shepherd (pictured above) surrendered at a police station in Georgia on Wednesday
Jack Shepherd (right) was convicted of killing 24-year-old Charlotte Brown (left) during a speedboat date on the Thames
On Wednesday night the Crown Prosecution Service was preparing an extradition request to be lodged with Georgian legal authorities. However Shepherd's lawyer has said it could be 'months' before he returns to the UK, despite experts suggesting the UK authorities would want to 'urgently extradite him'.
It is said that Shepherd could appear in court on either Thursday or Friday, but it is not clear how long the extradition process could take from there.
The length of the process will depend on both the Georgian authorities and on whether or not Shepherd consents to his return, if he does it could be a matter of weeks.
If he refuses to return to the UK, extradition could take a 'considerable amount of time'.
The extradition case for Shepherd could be similar to that of Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt, who accepted his extradition from Spain after he was arrested over alleged drug offences.
It took just one month for Acourt to be extradited, however the process fell under European law, which Georgia's process does not.
Meanwhile, leading barrister Mr Hepburne Scott said: 'The National Crime Agency will have to make a request of the Georgian State through the extradition treaty between the UK and Georgia.
'In reality it will be highly political. There have been no extradition requests from Georgia to the UK in the past 10 years, so the UK has nothing Georgia wants in return.
'Georgia may want to be seen as standing up to the UK and not bowing down to requests from the West. Mr Shepherd has also indicated he would fight extradition, so even if Georgia accepts the request to extradite him and a judge grants it, he can appeal that decision. This could take months and months.
'Mr Shepherd is also saying that he's an innocent man who was wrongly convicted.
'If he's claiming he has suffered a miscarriage of justice, a Georgian judge could refuse to extradite him on those grounds and he could remain in Georgia indefinitely.
Charlotte's sister Kate (right with Charlotte) has slammed Shepherd for his behavior
'But he would likely be confined to the state or other countries who are less UK-friendly such as Russia. He would not be able to live anywhere in the EU or America.'
This is while 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'.
The web designer was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to six years in prison in his absence, although he was controversially granted leave to appeal in December.
He is said to have fled to Georgia as he has friends there and had stated that 'there's a lot going for Georgia'.
When arriving at the station in Georgia, he was seen laughing and joking with officers who then had to Google his name, before understanding that he was a man on the run, ITV News said.
Ms Brown's family said they were overwhelmed with emotion after it emerged Shepherd had surrendered and her father said it was time for him to 'atone' for his actions.
Charlotte's sister Kate (pictured above) said couldn't believe Shepherd's arrogance
However, speaking to the Press Association, Shepherd's lawyer, Tariel Kakabadze, said he may go before a court in Tbilisi on Thursday or Friday, but suggested it may be 'some time' before he returns to the UK.
'Extradition doesn't happen in one or two days. All the documents will need to be translated, many things will need to be made ready,' he said.
'Depending on what evidence they show us... it might be very soon or it might be several months.'
A spokesman for the Extradition Lawyers Association said: 'I would imagine it will take an age. Unless he consents to extradition, it will largely depend on political will.
'There is very little extradition to or from Georgia. It happens very, very seldom and I can't think of a single case. In terms of how long it would take, I would say it would be a very lengthy process unless the defendant consents to be extradited or he is deported as a result of his visa being revoked.'
Scotland Yard, the force leading the investigation, have now been updated by the National Crime Agency on the development and are awaiting confirmation of Shepherd's identity and once his identity is secured, the Metropolitan Police have said proceedings 'will begin immediately' to extradite Shepherd, who has been the subject of an international arrest warrant.
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.
Ms Brown's family had reiterated their calls for the 31-year-old to hand himself in after he fled justice ahead of his trial at the Old Bailey.
Now the family has slammed the 31-year-old and his 'unbelievable arrogance', following watching his police interview where he boasted of partying in Georgia.
Ms Brown's sister Kate said she thinks Shepherd went to the police station for 'purely selfish reasons' because he wants his appeal to be successful and that she believes he thinks he will not serve his sentence.
Speaking on the case, extradition lawyer Thomas Garner from Gherson solicitors said due to the nature of the case the UK would be 'urgently seeking' Shepherd's extradition.
After handing himself in to police Shepherd (pictured above centre) was led away in handcuffs by Georgian police
The speedboat (pictured above) owned by Jack Sheperd, who was found guilty of killing Charlotte Brown
'Following Jack Shepherd's surrender to the Georgian authorities it is anticipated that the UK will be seeking his urgent extradition back to the UK. Extradition between Georgia and the UK is governed by the 1957 European Convention on Extradition. It is too early to say how long this process will take.
'Were he to consent to his return he could be back in the UK in a matter of weeks but in the event that he contests his extradition the matter could take a considerable period of time.
'It would naturally be wrong to comment on the specifics of any possible bars to extradition he might raise and it is important that the Georgian process is allowed to take its course. However, given the high profile nature of the case and the direct involvement of the Home Secretary himself, it is clear that the UK authorities will be putting all their resources and energy in securing a speedy resolution to the matter.'
On Wednesday a heavily-bearded Shepherd smiled as he walked into the station some 2,000 miles away while flanked by lawyers.
He vowed to local reporters he would clear his name over the 'tragic accident'.
Ms Brown's father, Graham Brown, celebrated the 'overwhelming' development, writing on Facebook: 'Justice for Charlotte is close!'
'My opinions towards Jack Shepherd is that he's a very crass, reckless man, who managed to abscond and stick two fingers up at the judiciary,' Mr Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live.
'He's got to come back to atone for all that and I think that he's done the right thing and thank goodness he's realised that now and handed himself in.'
Ms Brown, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, died in December 2015 when Shepherd's boat flipped into the wintry waters of the River Thames in London after they shared a Champagne-fuelled first date.
The family of Ms Brown, known to loved ones as Charli, ramped up pressure in recent weeks and renewed their calls for Shepherd to surrender after they met with Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists Shepherd (pictured above) said he was involved in a tragic accident... 'in which a lady called Charlotte Brown tragically died'
A day later Shepherd - wearing a long coat, jeans and a checked scarf - waved and smiled as he walked into the station from a black car, footage on Georgian television station Rustavi2 showed.
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.'
Billed by the network as an 'exclusive interview', Shepherd added he hopes 'justice will be done' with his pending appeal against the conviction.
He continued to say he hopes 'I can just', before pausing to correct himself and add, 'everybody can move forward with their lives'.
The family's MP, James Brokenshire, said Shepherd's 'wanton and selfish actions' had heaped further strain on the family 'at a time of unimaginable grief'.
While Shepherd was on the run, his lawyers have been working to appeal against the conviction.
Shepherd's UK solicitor Richard Egan said: 'In the light of today's developments I don't think it would be appropriate to comment further until Mr Shepherd is back in the jurisdiction.'
MailOnline has contacted Richard Egan and Tuckers Solicitors for further comments on how Shepherd intends to proceed once he returns to the UK.
'Unbelievable arrogance!': Sister's fury as smiling speed boat killer strolls into police station in Georgia boasting of partying in nightclubs while family of victim were left in 'agony' in Britain
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Charlotte Brown's sister Katie said when the family heard Jack Shepherd had handed himself in they were all 'very shocked and relieved'.
'Last night as we saw his TV interview, we had increasing feelings of anger. To see him just stroll into the police station smiling and waving it was unbelievable - his arrogance over everything.'
As she sat next to a framed photo of her sister, she said she thinks Shepherd went to the police station for 'purely selfish reasons' because he wants his appeal to be successful and that she believes he thinks he will not serve his sentence.
Asked how she feels about the comments Shepherd made to reporters in Georgia, where he said he was frightened about what might happen and how he hopes justice will prevail, she said: 'He seems to be concerned about his own feelings and how he's felt throughout the whole thing, and has had no empathy or remorse for his reckless actions.
'He has caused the loss of my sister's life and whilst he's been off in Georgia, he claims that he went to see friends and he has always wanted to see the scenery there - almost like he was claiming it was a holiday.
'He said that he has been out socialising, going to nightclubs, so whilst he has been doing that we have been back here, had the agony of the trial, left to pick up the pieces.
'He is not thinking about Charlie, us, respect for the legal system, all he is thinking about is himself and his feelings.'
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Main photo article Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd may never return to Britain if Georgia wants to be seen to be ‘standing up’ to the UK, a top barrister warned today.
The Home Office and Sajid Javid are under pressure to secure his extradition ‘swiftly’ after the 31-year-old handed himself ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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